Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has scored a significant legal victory in his high-profile case against the NFL.
On Monday, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gruden in his appeal, allowing his lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell to proceed in open court instead of arbitration. This decision permits Gruden to pursue discovery, enabling him to request internal NFL documents and testimonies that support his claim that the league and Goodell improperly leaked private emails, which ultimately led to his resignation in October 2021.
Can Jon Gruden beat the NFL in court?
The emails—that surfaced during the NFL’s investigation into the Washington Commanders’ workplace culture—contained racist, misogynistic and homophobic language. The publication of the emails in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times prompted immediate backlash and resulted in the end of Gruden’s second tenure as head coach of the Raiders, occurring just five games into his fourth season.
The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Jon Gruden in his appeal against the NFL.
That means Gruden will get discovery and his day in court alleging that Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL improperly leaked his emails, leading to his firing as Raiders head coach. pic.twitter.com/QHcy6xR9Wd
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) August 11, 2025
Gruden’s legal team argues the league selectively leaked the emails to force his departure. The NFL has denied being the source of the disclosures. The league wanted the case resolved through private arbitration. That is a common practice in disputes involving team and league officials. However, the decision of the Nevada Supreme Court keeps the case in the public judicial system.
ProFootballTalk notes the NFL is expected to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, though it is unclear if the high court would take the case. For now, Gruden will get his day in court, a rare scenario for a legal battle involving the league’s inner workings.
The outcome could significantly affect Gruden’s reputation and any potential damages. Additionally, it may influence how the NFL manages confidential investigations and internal communications moving forward.
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*Top Photo: Mark Brown/Getty Images