Condemned NFL icon Jon Gruden no longer has a job

An NFL coach has suffered a “swift and stunning fall” over a leaked email scandal that made his position untenable.

Head coach Jon Gruden is unemployed. Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images.

NFL icon Jon Gruden no longer has a job.

The former Las Vegas Raiders head coach was reportedly forced into leaving the team on the spot when Raiders owner Mark Davis met with the veteran coach at the team’s headquarters on Tuesday.

Gruden confirmed his departure in a statement.

Despite beginning the season with a record of 3-2, Gruden’s position as coach was no longer tenable after the Wall Street Journal recently uncovered a leaked email from 2011 in which he referred to NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith using a racial stereotype.

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Other emails from Gruden in which he used offensive language were also published by the New York Times this week.

The Times reported Gruden used homophobic and misogynistic language in emails over a seven-year period.

NFL Network host Tom Pelissero reported Gruden was forced to hand in his resignation, just three days after his emails were published.

He said Gruden had told his staff about his decision to resign even before meeting with Davis.

“A swift and stunning fall,” Pelissero posted on Twitter of the 72-hour scandal.

Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders walks off Allegiant Stadium for the final time. Photo by Ethan MILLER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP.

Gruden’s statement included an apology to his players.

“I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction,” he said.

“Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

Gruden earlier this week apologised for the email scandal, but he could not survive the outcry that has followed the Journal’s report.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Gruden sent the email during the 2011 NFL lockout to Bruce Allen, who was the GM of the Washington Redskins at the time.

“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin [sic] tires,” the email read.

Gruden apologised to the WSJ, saying he is “really sorry” and that he refers to liars as “rubber lips”. He also said, however, he doesn’t think Smith is a liar.

“I don’t think he’s dumb,” Gruden told the Journal. “I don’t think he’s a liar. I don’t have a racial bone in my body, and I’ve proven that for 58 years.”

Smith, who could be voted out of the leadership position at the NFLPA, released a statement in response.

“This is not the first racist comment that I’ve heard and it probably will not be the last,” the statement read. “Racism like this comes from the fact that I’m at the same table as they are and they don’t think someone who looks like me belongs.”

Jon Gruden has served as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders since 2018. Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images

The NFL denounced Gruden’s comment in a statement on Friday.

“The email from Jon Gruden denigrating DeMaurice Smith is appalling, abhorrent and wholly contrary to the NFL’s values. We condemn the statement and regret any harm that its publication may inflict on Mr. Smith or anyone else.”

The Raiders also responded to news of the email, saying the team is addressing the matter with Gruden. That process has now ended in Gruden’s resignation.

The former TV commentator coached the team in Sunday’s loss to Chicago, which was his last game with the franchise.

Gruden had been in the middle of his fourth season with the Raiders.

Originally published as Condemned NFL icon Jon Gruden no longer has a job