Jon Gruden makes statement on resignation as Raiders head coach

Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden made a statement Monday night regarding his resignation, apologizing to the Raiders organization. ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared Gruden’s parting message, in which the coach claimed he did not want to be a distraction for his team after offensive comments made by Gruden came to light on Monday night.

Jon Gruden’s resignation statement

“I have resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” Gruden stated. “I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

The New York Times detailed in a report Monday that Jon Gruden made more offensive comments than those initially revealed in his emails, including the use of homophobic slurs. Gruden has been the subject of criticism since an email he sent in 2011 was revealed in which he used a racially charged remark when discussing DeMaurice Smith of the NFLPA.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden later informed his staff he planned to resign as the Raiders head coach, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Gruden’s resignation comes after uncovered emails showed the Raiders head coach used racist, misogynistic and homophobic language.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Gruden and the Raiders “parted ways.”

A story released by the Wall Street Journal describing an email sent by Gruden back in July of 2011 to have contained the use of a racist trope directed at NFL players of association executive director DeMaurice Smith sparked an investigation and ensuing fallout.

“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires,” Gruden wrote in the email that has since launched an investigation, per Andrew Beaton of The Wall Street Journal.

Gruden sent the email during a lockout by the players over the 2011 summer. He sent the email after the NFLPA chose not to vote on a collective bargaining agreement ratified by the league’s owners. At the time of the email, Gruden was a color commentator for ESPN. During that time he was one of the analysts for the network’s Monday Night Football telecast.

Gruden’s resigns early

Jon Gruden resigned midway through his fourth season as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2018 he signed a record 10-year $100 million contract to take over the position from Jack Del Rio. The two-time Raiders coach also has a no-trade clause built into the contract. In his second stint with the Raiders, Gruden finishes 22-31 and never his team to the playoffs in three seasons. 

In his head coaching career, Gruden finishes with an overall record of 117-111 over nearly 15 seasons, with a Super Bowl win in 2002.

Raiders special teams coach Rich Bisaccia is a candidate to take over on an interim basis per Adam Caplan.