NFL files motion to dismiss Jon Gruden lawsuit and compel arbitration

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The NFL on Wednesday filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Jon Gruden on Nov. 12 against the league and commissioner Roger Goodell alleging the parties sought to raze Gruden’s career with the publication of private emails in which the former Raiders head coach used misogynistic, homophobic and racist terms.

Another motion has been filed to force arbitration. Both petitions were filed in Clark County, Nev., District Court.

Gruden’s lawsuit alleges that the NFL and Goodell aimed to “destroy Jon Gruden’s career and reputation.”

In its motion to dismiss, the NFL states that “the complaint – a baseless attempt by Jon Gruden to blame the NFL and its commissioner for the fallout from the publication of racist, misogynistic and homophobic emails that Gruden wrote and widely broadcast – should be dismissed for failing to state a single viable cause of action.”

In the motion, it is also noted that Gruden does not dispute what was written in the emails, nor does it allege that they were edited. Furthermore, he states that “to the extent that Jon Gruden suffered damage, he has no one to blame but himself” and that, therefore, “the complaint must be dismissed in its entirety”.

In the second motion, the league argues that “under the clear terms of Gruden’s employment contract and the NFL Constitution and Bylaws to which Gruden is bound,” arbitration is the appropriate forum for resolution and an order. should be issued to suspend the action.

In his lawsuit, Gruden seeks “the recovery of money in excess of $15,000.00” in each of seven causes of action. He resigned as head coach of the Raiders following the publication of articles in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times that detailed his aforementioned emails spanning from 2010 to 2018.

On the day the lawsuits were filed, the league issued a statement calling them unsavory.

“The allegations are completely without merit and the NFL will vigorously defend itself against these allegations,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in the Nov. 12 statement.

Wednesday’s motions maintain the league’s position that Gruden’s claims are baseless.

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