The NFL is asking the Nevada Supreme Court to reconsider its recent ruling in favor of former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, according to court documents obtained by Heavy Sports.
Gruden is suing the league, alleging that in 2021, damaging emails were leaked to the media to force his resignation from the Raiders.
The league’s attorneys have argued that, under the NFL’s constitution, Gruden remains bound to closed-door arbitration. But last month, the state Supreme Court sided with Gruden in a 5-2 decision.
The majority opinion held that the arbitration clause doesn’t apply to a former employee and criticized the league for allowing the clause to be changed without notice, giving Commissioner Roger Goodell the power to arbitrate disputes involving his own conduct. The justices called these provisions “unconscionable,” highlighting serious concerns about fairness and transparency in the league’s arbitration process.
Clerk of Nevada CourtsJon Gruden vs. the NFL lawsuit
NFL Argues That Gruden Ruling Sets Bad Precedent
In a rehearing petition filed Monday, NFL attorneys argued that the high court’s ruling contains “several errors that threaten arbitration agreements across a host of industries.”
“Every sophisticated party that incorporates industry rules or bylaws into a negotiated contract will face uncertainty over whether Nevada courts will honor its choice, while any employee wishing to escape agreed-upon arbitration need only resign before filing suit,” the petition reads.
League attorneys also contend that the justices misread the NFL constitution’s amendment process, emphasizing that any changes require approval from three-fourths of the team owners.
Clerk of Nevada CourtsJon Gruden vs. the NFL and Roger Goodell
What was in the Jon Gruden emails?
In October 2021, The New York Times reported that, in the seven years leading up to his 2018 hiring as Raiders head coach, Gruden frequently sent emails containing misogynistic and anti-gay language.
In July 2011, while serving as Monday Night Football’s lead analyst, Gruden sent an email to the former president of then-Washington Football Team in which he described former NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith as having “lips the size of Michelin tires,” The Wall Street Journal reported at the time.
The Times reported that Gruden repeatedly used anti-gay slurs to insult Goodell. He also criticized Goodell for allegedly pressuring the Rams to draft “queers,” a reference to Michael Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay draft pick in 2014.
In a 2017 email, The Times reported, Gruden responded to a sexist meme of a female official with the remark, “Nice job Roger.”
The paper also said he criticized Goodell and the NFL for efforts to reduce concussions and suggested that Eric Reid, who had knelt during the national anthem in protest, should be fired. Additionally, Gruden reportedly mocked a 2017 article highlighting players’ calls for Goodell to support initiatives promoting racial equality and criminal justice reform.
GettyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during a game against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bears defeated the Raiders 20-9. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Jon Gruden Would Resign, Sue the NFL
When the Gruden emails came to light he tried to get ahead of it by apologizing to his players for “insensitive remarks” about Smith. He said the comments stemmed from frustration over the 2011 lockout and a lack of trust in the direction the union was taking.
But Gruden resigned hours after the emails were published.
The NFL uncovered the controversial emails while investigating allegations of workplace misconduct at the Washington Football Team. The emails were just a fraction of the more than 650,000 emails collected by the league. Gruden argues the NFL leaked them to the newspapers.
“There is no explanation or justification for why Gruden’s emails were the only ones made public out of the 650,000 emails collected in the NFL’s investigation of the Washington Football Team or for why the emails were held for months before being released in the middle of the Raiders’ season,” Adam Hosmer-Henner, one of Gruden’s lawyers, said at the time.
Gruden was removed from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor, where he had been inducted since 2017 after winning Super Bowl XXVII in 2003. However, the Buccaneers announced in February 2025 that Gruden would be reinstated.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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