Sports

NFL Jon Grudgen resigns, What we know so far?

The NFL on Monday was shocked after Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden stepped down from his role following the release he sent years ago containing racism and homophobic language. His resignation was a massive blow for a coach who had won a Super Bowl, a marquee analyst on ESPN, and returned to the NFL in 2018.

Gruden wrote on his Twitter account that he had resigned as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. He continued to state that he loved the team and did not want to be a distraction. Jon also thanked all players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raiders. Jon apologized, stating that he never meant to hurt anyone.

What the NFL owners have to say

The owner of the Raiders, Mark Davis, said that he had accepted Jon’s resignation. The unique team’s coordinator, Rich Bisaccia, was elevated as the head coach. On Tuesday, the owner of Jacksonville Jaguars was the first to comment on Grudgen’s resignation. During the CAA World Congress of Sports, Khan responded that Jon made the right decision to resign. Khan joins Marc Lasry, who owns Milwaukee Bucks, to speak at the World Congress of Sports. Jaguars Chief Football Strategy Officer Tony Khan is also on the event list of speakers. However, Khan is one of the few owners who have publicly commented on Gruden’s decision to step down.

How NFL players have responded

Keyshawn Johnson, who once played under Jon Gruden in 2001-2002, blasted his former coach. Keyshawn Johnson, who made the Pro Bowl and won a Super Bowl, said that the email’s content didn’t surprise him. Johnson detailed his outspokenness that led others to make him a scapegoat and villain in Tampa Bay.

Keyshawn criticized Gruden, questioned his character, and to what degree Tampa Bay’s 2002 Super Bowl attributed to his coaching. Keshan continued to tweet that Gruden has always been a fraud and a car salesman that people always bought. In other statements, Johnson was grateful for how Jon came with a different energy to win the world championship. Resignation of a coach is not something to be taken lightly as we can only wait and see how the move will affect the odds of  Las Vegas Raiders on various NFL betting sites that football fans love.

What was in the emails?

According to the New York Times, the NFL exposed more emails on Raiders coach Jon Gruden from 2010 to 2018, in which he used homophobic, transphobic, and sexist language. Shortly after the Gruden report, Tom Pelissero and Adam Schefter reported that Jon had told his team about his resignation. The League officials exposed the emails as part of a workplace misconduct investigation on former Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen.

He drew insults to the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and described the NFL owners, coaches, and reporters using homophobic slurs. There are also emails of him and Allen exchanging photos of women dressed in bikini bottoms. In 2017 he replied to a shared sexist meme of a woman referring to the NFL, stating, “Nice job, roger.”

Jon Gruden professional coaching

At 28, Gruden was hired by Mike Holmgren as the special offensive assistant coach at Green Bay Packers. He coached for three seasons before joining Philadelphia Eagles as the offensive coordinator under Ray Rhodes. In the 1998 season, he was hired by Al Davis as the Oakland Raiders head coach.

 Oakland Raiders

The Raiders posted a remarkable 8-8 seasons in 1998 and 1999 and crossed over the last place in AFC West.  Gruden united with journeyman quarterback Rich Gannon and led the team to the top. The Oakland Raiders managed to make the playoffs for three consecutive seasons from 2000 -2002. Raiders remember the 2000 season as the most successful and first division title since 1990, reaching the AFC Championship. Oakland lost 16-3 to SuperBowl champions Baltimore Ravens. At Raider, Gruden acquired his nickname Chucky.  He was nicknamed by the defensive lineman Grady Jackson, who thought Jon looked like Chucky in the 1988 slasher movie Child’s Play.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2002, Tony Dungy was replaced by Jon Gruden as the head coach at Tampa Bay. Gruden retooled the offense with additional free agents. The team improved and ranked to a 12-4 season. Fans were happy about the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles and acquired the Super Bowl XXXVII.  Gruden became the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl at the age of 39. The record was later broken by Mike Tomlin, who won the Super Bowl XLIII. Mike Tomlin served under Jon Gruden as Tampa Bay’s defensive backs coach.

Gruden’s offense was brutal, something the team lacked under Dungy. In week nine, Brad Johnson had an outstanding performance after recording five touchdowns in a 38-24 win against the Vikings. Johnson won a Pro Bowl along with fullback Mike Alstott who exemplified the rallying cry Pound the rock.

Las Vegas Raiders

After nine years away from coaching, Gruden returned to Raiders as the head coach on January 6, 2018.  He signed one of the most significant contracts in NFLhistory worth $100 million and stayed at Raiders for ten years. He came back after Mark Davis, owner of the Raiders, tried to lure him for six years. The team went 4-12 during his first year with the team. He later led the team to a 6-4 record. However, Oakland ended their last season in 1-5 and 7-9 overall due to injuries. Gruden recorded 3-0 at the 2021 season, two overtime wins, and two losses.

 

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