Skip to main content
Join Now

Jon Gruden says flagged 2011 emails included criticism of Roger Goodell

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•10/10/21•

Jonathan Wagner

jon-gruden-las-vegas-raiders-says-flagged-emails-included-criticism-nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell
Ethan Miller via Getty Images.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has found himself in hot water with the NFL for 2011 emails. The emails came while the NFLPA induced a lockout during the summer in 2011.

“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires,” he said in the email.

Gruden has been heavily criticized for the email. He did issue an apology and said that it was not intended to be racial, although it did go too far.

Now, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that Gruden’s emails also included harsh words for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as well as other NFL team owners.

“I was in a bad frame of mind at the time (in 2011) and I called Roger Goodell a (expletive) in one of these emails, too,” Gruden said via Mortensen. “They were keeping players and coaches from doing what they love with a lockout. There also were a lot of things being reported publicly about the safety of the sport that I love. I was on a mission with high school football (in the Tampa area) during that time and there were a lot of parents who were scared about letting their kids play football. It just didn’t sit well with me.”

There are reportedly five to seven emails from Gruden that the league is investigating.

NFL, Gruden statements on the situation

When news originally broke of the investigation into Gruden’s emails, Gruden issued an apology.

“I’m really sorry,” Gruden said. “I was upset, I used a horrible way of explaining it. . . . I don’t think he’s dumb, 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.”

The NFL condemned Gruden’s words, saying that they are opposite of what the NFL stands for.

“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,” wrote the NFL.

Gruden signed an NFL record 10-year, $100 million contract to become the head coach of the Raiders in 2018.