Sep 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden looks at his play chart against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Las Vegas won 26-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
(Las Vegas, Nevada) — More is being revealed regarding Jon Gruden’s time in Las Vegas.
ESPN’s Dan Van Natta and Seth Wickersham highlighted leaked emails that led to the ousting of Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
Before Wednesday, it was believed that Gruden resigned after derogatory emails he sent a decade later leaked.
It was revealed by ESPN that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was the one who initially applied pressure on Raiders owner Mark Davis to fire Gruden. Gruden was originally set to remain with the team.
From ESPN:
“There’s more emails coming,” Goodell told Davis. “Something has to be done.”
When the call ended, Davis turned to Ventrelle.
“Motherf—er,” Davis said in exasperation.
On Monday, Oct. 11, The New York Times published a story revealing new emails in which Gruden wrote that Goodell was “clueless” and “anti-football” and described him in anti-gay and misogynistic terms. That evening, Gruden resigned, pushed by Davis.
Gruden went on to sue the NFL and Commissioner Goodell. Goodell has since maintained he knew nothing about the leaked emails.
“Why would these people want to come and get me?” Gruden said, according to ESPN.
The reason, Gruden said, was that he had a quiet crusade of “f–k Roger Goodell. And I’m not the only one, by the way. … Deep down, I knew he — Goodell — had me by the balls.”
