Joe Mixon pens passionate letter in defense of Cale Gundy following resignation

Following Oklahoma Sooners assistant Cale Gundy’s resignation on Sunday night, former OU running back Joe Mixon posted a passionate letter in defense of his former coach.

The Cincinnati Bengals star started by crediting Gundy with helping him survive in Norman, before defending him against any accusal of racism.

“Coach Gundy is everything OU and any institution would want in a coach, teacher, and mentor,” Mixon wrote. “He is caring, thoughtful, intelligent, smart, funny, experienced, philanthropic, humble, and selfless. If not for Coach Gundy I would not have attended OU, survived at OU, stayed at OU, and succeeded in life after OU. I owe my education and professional career to him and most importantly I owe who I am as a person to him.

“… Most importantly Coach Gundy is not, and I repeat is not a racist in any way nor has a racist bone in his body, mind, or soul.”

Sooner Nation This Ain’t Right‼️ @OU_Football pic.twitter.com/2WoKGrxcXX

— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) August 8, 2022

As Gundy described the incident that led to his resignation, he “noticed a player was distracted and picked up his iPad and read aloud the words that were written on his screen.” He said he read “one particular word” — something that “horrified” him afterward.

Venables accepts surprise Gundy resignation

Sooners head coach Brent Venables accepted Gundy’s resignation on Sunday night and released a statement.

Gundy was serving as an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for the Sooners. For now, former offensive analyst L’Damian Washington is taking over his duties as an interim assistant.

After his time as a player at OU, Gundy immediately went into coaching, serving as a graduate assistant for Oklahoma during the 1994 season. Although four seasons at UAB beginning in 1995 interrupted his time in Norman, never left the program again after returning.

As Joe Mixon says in his statement, he’s hoping to see the former Sooners quarterback reinstated in his role.

“I offer my highest support and admiration for Coach Gundy and will be extremely disappointed with the school, the program, and the administrators if he is not allowed to continue as a coach at the university going forward,” Mixon concluded.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.