The Las Vegas Raiders released a public statement concerning head coach Jon Gruden’s racist language in a 2011 email, describing the email as “disturbing.”
Long before Jon Gruden returned to the NFL as a head coach, he was working as a broadcaster for ESPN. During the 2011 lockout, Gruden sent an email to current Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen concerning DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association. Gruden employed racist imagery and tropes in an effort to insult Smith.
Ten years later, Gruden is facing the repercussions for such terminology, as the emails have have been leaked during an NFL investigation.
NEW: At the crescendo of the 2011 NFL lockout, Jon Gruden sent an email that used a racist trope to describe NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith. “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires.” https://t.co/MQn55oEMZE
— Andrew Beaton (@andrewlbeaton) October 8, 2021
As the situation develops over the coming days, the Raiders have issued an official response to the entire matter, describing the content of the email as “disturbing” and “not what the Raiders stand for.”
Raiders condemn Jon Gruden email with press release
The statement reveals that the organization is “addressing” the matter with Gruden, although the exact course of action remains unclear.
Meanwhile, DeMaurice Smith has responded with his own thoughts on discovering the contents of Gruden’s email, explaining that he is not surprised yet wishes his family did not have to see such language.
“This is not the first racist comment that I’ve heard and it probably will not be the last,” Smith said. “This is a thick skin job for someone with dark skin, just like it always has been for many people who look like me and work in corporate America… I will not let it define me.”
The NFL also released a statement regarding the matter.
“The email from Jon Gruden denigrating DeMaurice Smith is appalling, abhorrent and wholly contrary to the NFL’s values,” the NFL said. “We condemn the statement and regret any harm that its publication may inflict on Mr. Smith or anyone else.”
As of yesterday, Gruden spoke at a Raiders press conference to discuss the team’s Week 5 gameplan against the Chicago Bears.
