The Circuit Court Supported John Gruden in the Case Against the NFL

• The Nevada court allowed the continuation of Gruden's lawsuit against the NFL.
• Gruden claims that the NFL destroyed his career through the leak of electronic emails.
• The Supreme Court confirmed that arbitration does not apply to Gruden.

In Nevada, the circuit court granted the possibility for the continuation of John Gruden's lawsuit, the former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell. In Gruden's lawsuit, he asserts that the NFL launched a "malicious campaign" to destroy his career by leaking old electronic emails that contained racist and sexist comments.

On Monday, September 11, 2025, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld the 5-2 ruling, confirming that the arbitration provisions of the NFL Constitution do not apply to Gruden as a former employee. The court rejected the NFL's argument that arbitration in Gruden's contract with the Raiders prohibited him from filing a lawsuit.

Gruden was fired from his position as head coach in October 2021, after it became known that his electronic emails, sent between 2011 and 2018, had been leaked. Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Goodell in late 2021, asserting that he was forced to resign due to the public disclosure of these emails.

Gruden is seeking damages, arguing that the publication of electronic emails destroyed his career and advertising contracts. He also consults the Nashville Cats team in the Arena Football League.

Tags: Sport/American football