NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, ex-Commanders owner Dan Snyder accused of leaking Jon Gruden emails

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and outgoing Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder may have played roles in the infamous email leaks that led to Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden’s 2021 firing.

Four unnamed team owners told ESPN that they think Goodell was directly involved with the leak, while another ownership source said it was league executives who approved the leaked emails, which contained racist and homophobic statements by Gruden.

The Wall Street Journal reported in October of 2021 that Gruden had used a racist term to describe NFL union chief DeMaurice Smith. Gruden resigned the following day, shortly after The New York Times revealed additional offensive emails. Gruden sued the league in November of 2021, claiming the NFL and Goodell engaged in a ‘orchestrated a malicious campaign’ to ‘destroy his career and reputation.’

Speaking with ESPN this week, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy repeated the league’s denial that Goodell had any involvement in the leak: ‘Neither the NFL nor the commissioner leaked Coach Gruden’s offensive emails.’

Snyder, who is awaiting league approval on his $6 billion sale of the Commanders, is also being accused of leaking the emails to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. 

Four unnamed team owners told ESPN that they think Goodell was involved with the leak 

Outgoing Commanders owner Dan Snyder (left) is also being accused of leaking the emails