On October 23, 2025, the Nevada Supreme Court assigned Jon Gruden’s case back to the state’s District Court. This development comes as the NFL has filed two motions seeking the dismissal of Gruden’s claims. Gruden, who resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in October 2021, faced backlash after the release of his private emails containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic language.
NFL Pursues Dismissal of Gruden’s Lawsuit
Gruden’s lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell contends that the league organized a malicious campaign to damage his reputation by disclosing these emails. The NFL’s motion asserts that the claims against them lack legal merit and should have been dismissed promptly. The league’s attorneys described Gruden’s assertions as unfounded and emphasized that he cannot deny authorship of the controversial emails.
Background of the Controversy
- Gruden resigned from the Raiders in October 2021 following email revelations.
- He filed his lawsuit against the NFL and Goodell in November 2021.
- Gruden claims the email leaks were part of a coordinated attack on his career.
In its motions, the NFL highlighted that Gruden does not dispute authorship or the content of the emails, reiterating that his claims falsely attempt to portray him as a victim. Furthermore, the league invoked Nevada’s anti-SLAPP statute, which aims to protect against lawsuits that hinder the free exercise of First Amendment rights. According to NFL attorneys, Gruden’s lawsuit is based on First Amendment activities concerning the public dissemination of his unaltered emails.
Legal Proceedings Leading to Current Status
In 2022, the NFL sought to challenge Gruden’s lawsuit in Nevada’s Supreme Court after a lower court refused to dismiss the claims outright or mandate arbitration overseen by Goodell. The Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision, ruled that the NFL’s arbitration clause was unconscionable and did not apply to Gruden as a former employee.
The Aftermath of Gruden’s Career
Gruden’s career has seen significant shifts, having served as an on-air analyst for ESPN from 2011 to 2018. He was the head coach of the Raiders during their relocation to Las Vegas in 2020, and previously coached both the Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His tenure with the Buccaneers included winning a Super Bowl title in 2003.
Currently, Gruden is pursuing monetary damages, claiming that the selective disclosure of his emails has severely impacted his career and endorsement deals. Following his coaching career, he has taken on a role as a part owner and consultant for the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football One league.
