Following several appeals, the legal action initiated by Jon Gruden against the National Football League is poised for a public hearing.
On Thursday, the Nevada Supreme Court denied the NFL’s request for a new hearing concerning a recent adjudication on the matter with a unanimous 7-0 vote, as reported by Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN.
It signifies the latest judicial triumph for the former head coach as he endeavors to prevent the proceedings from being conducted in private. Back in August, the court ruled in favor of Gruden in an appeal that prevented the NFL from relegating the dispute to confidential arbitration.
Gruden stepped down from his position as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 after emails containing expressions deemed racist, homophobic, and misogynistic were disclosed to news outlets. Subsequently, Gruden initiated legal proceedings against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, alleging that the league disseminated the emails as part of a “malicious and orchestrated campaign” intended to damage his professional standing.
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In the intervening years, Gruden and the league have been embroiled in legal contention, primarily concerning the procedural aspects of the lawsuit. Gruden has advocated for maximum public access to his trial, pledging in 2021 that “the truth will come out.”
Conversely, the league has sought closed-door arbitration to avoid discovery. Despite the NFL’s repeated efforts to dismiss the lawsuit, attempts to do so have been unsuccessful.
Gruden initially prevailed in the case before a trial court, but a Nevada Supreme Court panel overturned the decision in May 2024 during an extended appeal process. According to court records, Gruden’s legal representatives initially applied for a rehearing on the appeal last summer, which was rejected. A month later, they submitted a request for an en banc reconsideration, which was granted last October.
One of the NFL’s arguments has been that Gruden, as a former employee, is prohibited from initiating any public lawsuits against the league due to an arbitration clause contained within the NFL’s constitution. However, the panel sided with Gruden last month, deeming the clause “unconscionable” and stating that it does not apply to Gruden as he is no longer a current employee. Thursday’s ruling rejected a rehearing of that decision.
Gruden has not held a coaching position in the NFL since his resignation from the Raiders. He joined the New Orleans Saints as an advisor in 2023, and became a commentator and on-air personality for Barstool Sports last fall.
