Jon Gruden scores another major legal win in lawsuit against NFL

Jon Gruden and the NFL are on the path to a potentially public trial after a ruling by the Nevada Supreme Court to deny an attempt by the league to keep the case behind closed doors.

The unanimous decision on Thursday came after the NFL attempted to get a rehearing on a decision in August that denied a league motion to force the lawsuit, filed by Gruden, in the NFL’s arbitration process instead of going through the courts. 

The NFL could appeal the decision to the United States Supreme Court, though it’s unclear if it will. NFL spokespersons declined to comment to The Athletic on Thursday Night following the decision. 

Gruden is suing the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, accusing them of leaking emails that showed the former head coach making racist, homophobic and sexist remarks in an attempt to “destroy the career and reputation of Jon Gruden, the former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.”

Gruden resigned as the Raiders’ head coach in 2021, and he alleges in the suit that he was “forced to resign” after the emails ended up becoming public. 

The emails were a part of the NFL’s investigation into sexual harassment and workplace culture in the Commanders organization. 

Gruden sent the emails to Bruce Allen, then the president of the team, while he was a commentator on “Monday Night Football from 2011-18. 

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The Nevada Supreme Court first ruled in favor of Guden in August when it decided that it was denying the NFL’s motion to send the case to arbitration, which the NFL appealed on Sept. 8, asking for a rehearing. 

In its appeal, the NFL argued that the court had made “several errors that threaten arbitration agreements across a host of industries. Its decision respectfully warrants rehearing.”