NFL fans react to reports of Raiders’ interest to bring back Jon Gruden

By | Niranjan Bhargav 29 Dec, 2023

Jon Gruden might make a surprise comeback to the NFL.

The former Las Vegas Raiders coach resigned after the New York Times revealed emails from 2011 in which he made racial remarks about the NFL Players Association’s executive director, DeMaurice Smith. He stated:

“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires.”

The emails were uncovered during an NFL inquiry involving claims of workplace misbehavior against the Washington Commanders’ senior staff.

Gruden apologized for the emails and stated that he typed the statement out of anger but did not have ‘a blade of racism’ in him. Raiders owner Mark Davis did not terminate the club’s coach, but he did label the statements ‘disturbing’ and not representative of the franchise.

Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL two weeks after resigning as Raiders coach, accusing the organization of orchestrating a “malicious and orchestrated campaign” to push him to leave as Las Vegas coach. According to reports, the Raiders would gladly re-hire their previous coach.

BREAKING: #Raiders owner Mark Davis
would “LOVE TO” bring back Jon Gruden as the team’s head coach, via SI.

“If Jon were willing to drop his lawsuit, they (sources) believe the #NFL would give a passive nod to go back and re-hire him.” pic.twitter.com/oRn41TjWin
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 30, 2023

Fans on social media were perplexed by the claim and chastised the Raiders for even considering re-hiring Gruden, with one tweeting:

“It’s no surprise they’ve devolved into the shambles of a franchise.” Everything makes so much sense now.”

Here are some of the most popular comments:

Absolutely no shot the Raiders are still being run this poorly ???
— Ben (@HowUBenFeller) November 30, 2023

Mark Davis looks and acts like a clown pic.twitter.com/GoDys5BUBM
— Anthony Russo (@Anthony_Russo97) November 30, 2023

I know CM Punk is back in the WWE but this seems even more far-fetched.
— YouGottaBillieve (@ugottabillieve) November 30, 2023

No wonder they’ve become an absolute joke of a franchise. It all makes so much sense now. https://t.co/r51tk2S70J pic.twitter.com/4Z9e2jl3iu
— Jaret Fudale (@GUARDSFANATIC) November 30, 2023

Lawsuit filed by Jon Gruden against NFL

In his complaint, Jon Gruden alleged that it was his deliberate goal for the NFL to reveal the emails he sent to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, containing offensive remarks based on race.

According to the former coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, the revelations ‘destroyed his career and ruined endorsement negotiations.’ To little success, the NFL has attempted to have the case dismissed. Gruden is suing the league for millions of dollars in damages.

According to Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated, the NFL is concerned about the possible publicity that a hearing may bring. In an interview with Inside the Raiders, he stated:

“A lot of people believe that Jon Gruden’s lawsuit is going to take Roger Goodell out, and it’s going to embarrass a lot of people.” Now that Nevada courts continue to support (Gruden’s lawsuit), it’s coming up on potential discovery. If you know anything about the legal system, in discovery, Jon’s going to be able to ask any question he wants.”

Gruden is aware of “where everybody is buried in the NFL,” Carpenter continued. He continued by saying that the NFL will permit Raiders owner Mark Davis to reinstate the team’s former coach following Josh McDaniels’ firing:

“Several league insiders have told me that the NFL would implicitly approve of Jon returning for a second job if he were to withdraw his lawsuit.”

Gruden’s return to the Raiders would rank among the NFL’s greatest unexpected comebacks ever.

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