Las Vegas Raiders Coach Jon Gruden resigned on Monday night, days after emails he sent containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic comments came to light.
Gruden released a statement Monday night, saying: “I have resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”
Special teams and assistant head coach Rich Bisaccia will take over on an interim basis in place of Jon Gruden
Gruden’s new emails are part of a trove of 650,000 emails Goodell has had league executives combing through over the past few months. A report in New York Times on Monday night revealed Gruden, while he was a commentator at ESPN, sent homophobic, misogynistic comments. Also, other distasteful emails to former Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen between 2010 and 2018.
Jon Gruden is in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Raiders in 2018. The Raiders announced that assistant head coach Rich Bisaccia will serve as the team’s interim coach in his place.
Jon Gruden in one of his emails, according to the Times, called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell an anti-gay slur and a “clueless anti-football p—y”. And argued that Goodell shouldn’t have allegedly pressured then-St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher to draft “queers,”. In reference to former NFL defensive lineman Michael Sam, who was the first openly gay player to be selected in the draft. The email appeared to show a complete disconnect from Gruden’s messaging when his own player Carl Nassib came out as gay. It was before the start of the 2021 season and became the first active openly gay NFL player.