Judge Denies NFL’s Motion To Dismiss Gruden Lawsuit As It Moves To Trial

The ongoing legal battle between the NFL and former Las Vegas Raiders‘ head coach Jon Gruden continues today after a Nevada judge ruled against the league’s motion to dismiss the case outright. The suit brought forth by Gruden claims that the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell selectively leaked Gruden’s emails to force his resignation in October 2021. The emails from 2011, sent to then- Washington Redskins president Bruce Allen, contained derogatory, racist and anti-gay sentiments, although Gruden was not employed as a head coach during the time. The emails were obtained during a long-standing investigation by the NFL into the Washington Commanders and their conduct over the last few seasons. Gruden alleges that the NFL purposely leaked his email since they had been in the league’s possession for about four months before they were made public.

Judge Nancy L. Allf also denied the NFL’s motion to compel arbitration and will move the case to trial unless a settlement is reached between the two parties. In a statement to the media from the NFL, the league stated, “We believe Coach Gruden’s claims should have been compelled to arbitration, and we will file an appeal of the Court’s determination. The Court’s denial of our motion to dismiss is not a determination on the merits of Coach Gruden’s lawsuit, which, as we have said from the outset, lacks a basis in law and fact and proceeds from a false premise – neither the NFL nor the Commissioner leaked Coach Gruden’s offensive emails.”

Gruden’s attorney Adam Hosmer-Henner stated, “There is no explanation or justification for why Gruden’s emails were the only ones made public out of the 650,000 emails collected … or for why the emails were held for months before being released in the middle of the Raiders’ season.”

Gruden has been a constant presence in the NFL in both coaching and broadcasting roles. He coached the Raiders from 1998 to 2001 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008 winning one Super Bowl during his tenure. He was brought back to be the Raiders’ head coach in 2018 after signing a 10-year $100 million contract. The former head coach was in attendance during Alff’s ruling stating to the media, “I’m just going to let the process take care of itself,” Gruden said upon leaving the courtroom. “It’s good to be back in Vegas. I’m going to see some friends tonight. Go Raiders.” The NFL said it will look to appeal the court’s decision.