The NFL’s Growing Concern Over Jon Gruden Lawsuit

As NFL commissioner Roger Goodell advocated patience when it came to Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s future, lawyers were prepping for a legal hearing in a related matter that could prove even more troublesome for Goodell and the league. 

The lawsuit filed by former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden against the NFL last November has easily survived every legal challenge so far. At Thursday’s hearing in Las Vegas, District Court Judge Nancy Allf even refused to issue a stay in the case ahead of an expected appeal.

Sources told Front Office Sports there’s a growing concern around the NFL about the litigation, wherein Gruden alleges Goodell and the league were behind the leaked derogatory emails. The NFL denied it was the source of the emails, which led to Gruden’s resignation.

• Allf denied the NFL’s motion to dismiss the case at a May hearing. 
• Last week, Allf also denied the NFL’s motion to compel arbitration, which would have put proceedings out of public view. 
• The current NFL Constitution and Bylaws — a document the league’s lawyers had sought to keep under seal — was disclosed in the case, according to court documents obtained by FOS. 

Who Leaked? 

The source of the leaked emails obtained during the course of the first NFL outside investigation into the Commanders has been debated for months. The Commanders and Snyder — who faced five new investigations after the emails were published — have also denied being the source. 

“Somebody wanted Gruden out,” a source told FOS.