LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jon Gruden’s lawsuit against the NFL moved closer to trial on Thursday when the Nevada Supreme Court unanimously denied the league’s petition to rehear a recent decision.
“We’re obviously pleased with the court’s decision,” Gruden’s attorney, Adam Hosmer-Henner, told The Associated Press by email.
The NFL, which could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, declined to comment.
Gruden resigned as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in October 2021 after the publication of emails he sent years earlier that included racist, misogynistic and homophobic language. A month later, he sued the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell, alleging a “malicious and orchestrated campaign” to destroy his career by leaking the emails.
In Thursday’s 7-0 ruling, the Nevada Supreme Court denied the league’s earlier appeal of its ruling on Aug. 11 that Gruden can proceed with his lawsuit and not go through the league for arbitration.
In 2022, the NFL appealed to Nevada’s high court after a judge in Las Vegas rejected league bids to dismiss Gruden’s claim outright or to order out-of-court talks through an arbitration process that could be overseen by Goodell.
The high court, in a 5-2 ruling, said that “the arbitration clause in the NFL Constitution is unconscionable and does not apply to Gruden as a former employee.”
Gruden was an on-air analyst at ESPN from 2011-18 when the emails were sent.
He was the Raiders’ coach when the team moved in 2020 to Las Vegas from Oakland, California. He’s seeking monetary damages, saying that selective disclosure of the emails and their publication by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times ruined his career and endorsement contracts.
Gruden coached the Raiders in Oakland from 1998 to 2001, then led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven years, winning a Super Bowl title in 2003. He spent several years as a TV analyst for ESPN before being hired by the Raiders in 2018.
He later consulted for the New Orleans Saints in 2023. He is now a part owner and consultant for the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football One league.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
-
Pastrnak scores lone shootout goal to give Bruins 3-2 win over Golden Knights
David Pastrnak slipped a shot past Carter Hart to break a shootout stalemate and give the Boston Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night.
UNLV Lady Rebels look to build off of 100-68 loss to No. 3 USC
The UNLV Lady Rebels tipped off the 2026-2027 basketball season with a 100-68 loss to No.3 USC. Head coach Lindy La Rocque said there are no moral victories, but she's proud of her team.
Lady Rebels won the battle on the boards against USC
Lady Rebels won the battle on the boards against USC.
Raiders snap 4-game losing streak with 38-33 win over Jets
Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Las Vegas Raiders snapped a four-game skid with a 38-33 comeback victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
