Las Vegas Raiders Jon Gruden apologises after racist email leaks

Super Bowl champion coach Jon Gruden has apologised after an “appalling” leaked email from 10 years ago came to light.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has apologised after a leaked email from 2011 came to light in which he referred to NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith using a racial stereotype.

According to a report in 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.

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“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.

“The content of an email regarding DeMaurice Smith from Jon Gruden when he worked at ESPN 10 years ago is disturbing and now what the Raiders stand for,” owner Mark Davis said in a statement. “We were first made aware of the email late yesterday by a reporter and are reviewing it along with other materials provided to us today by the NFL.”

Gruden is in the middle of his fourth season as the head coach of the Raiders. He has gotten off to a strong 3-1 start, and faces the Bears (2-2) this Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Las Vegas Raiders Jon Gruden apologises after racist email leaks