Jon Gruden resigned as the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 in the middle of his fourth season as the head coach was embroiled in an email scandal. Emails of his from his time at ESPN were leaked, which featured sexist, racist, and anti-gay remarks. Shortly after his resignation, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL that the league intentionally released the messages.
However, now it appears that he could be back in the mix to be an NFL head coach again.
Jon Gruden Is Reportedly Back in the Mix To Be an NFL Head Coach
Front Office Sports reporter A.J. Perez reported on Thursday that Jon Gruden is expected to be a hot commodity in the next head coaching cycle in the NFL. There are three teams with head-coaching opportunities right now (Bears, Jets, and Saints) — more are expected to be available after the season.
Three-plus years after Jon Gruden's leaked crass emails led to his resignation as the Raiders' head coach, he is expected to be a "hot" candidate for vacant/soon-to-be vacant HC jobs around the NFL, a source tells @FOS. https://t.co/rPYIvelzMA
— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) January 2, 2025
After resigning, Gruden took some time off. The New Orleans Saints eventually hired him as a consultant in 2023. He then joined the Milano Seamen of the European League of Football as an advisor in March of 2024.
After Gruden resigned from the Raiders, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL that it had leaked his emails intentionally. The NFL has denied it was the source of the email. Instead, the emails were reportedly obtained during an investigation of the Washington Commanders and former owner Dan Snyder.
Since the event, Gruden has apologized for the emails, including the use of a racist stereotype to describe then-NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith in 2011.
Gruden’s lawsuit against the NFL has been stayed for more than two years as the Supreme Court of Nevada is making its decision on the NFL’s appeal. However, a motion to dismiss the case was ruled against. Gruden has asked for a rehearing in front of the full Supreme Court of Nevada and that motion was granted in October.
If Gruden is indeed someone that NFL teams are looking to hire this offseason, it would not be the first time he has been in position for coaching jobs since his resignation.