The Nevada Supreme Court has dealt another blow to the NFL in its legal fight with former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. On Thursday, the court unanimously rejected the league’s request for a rehearing on whether Gruden’s lawsuit should go to NFL arbitration.
That means the NFL’s last option is to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, something sources told ESPN is likely. A league spokesperson declined to comment.
Jon Gruden sued the NFL in 2021, claiming the league leaked private emails that contained racist, sexist, and anti-gay remarks he had written while working at ESPN. The messages surfaced during an investigation into workplace misconduct with the Washington Commanders and led to Gruden’s resignation as Raiders coach in October 2021.
Back in August, Nevada’s high court ruled 5-2 that the NFL’s push to send Gruden’s case to arbitration was “unconscionable” since commissioner Roger Goodell—who is a target in the lawsuit—would have overseen the process. The court made it clear that as a former employee, Gruden should not be forced into arbitration under the NFL Constitution.
“By its own unambiguous language, the NFL Constitution no longer applies to Gruden,” the justices wrote.
Jon Gruden’s legal team says the email leaks destroyed his coaching career and endorsement deals. He is seeking financial damages. His attorney, Adam Hosmer-Henner, called Thursday’s ruling a positive step: “We’re obviously pleased with the decision.”
Jon Gruden himself has said he wants the case to reveal the full truth about how the emails were leaked. “What happened wasn’t right,” he told ESPN earlier this year. “I’m glad the court didn’t let the NFL cover it up.”
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