As of 2020, 60% of the NFL’s players are Black, but 80% of coaches and staff remain white men according to the NFL’s report on occupational mobility and diversity and inclusion.
If these emails were sent to league officials or other powerful figures of the NFL, could this serve as an explanation as to why Kaepernick was blackballed by the League?įurthermore, Gruden’s actions have put the NFL’s culture on display for the world to rightfully criticize. An email written in August 2016 reveals Gruden believed Kaepernick should have been cut due to his choice to kneel during the national anthem. This situation has reignited discussion about former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Not only would this publicize the harsh realities of discriminatory attitudes within the league, but also it could bring a sense of clarity to past issues. With an alleged 650,000 emails to comb through, league officials should use this opportunity to expose the rest of the recipients, promoting accountability across the NFL. The former Raiders coach might no longer be part of the organization, but what about the individuals who enabled his behavior? Homophobic, racist and sexist mind frames still exist in the NFL. Some of the correspondence went as far as to attach explicit pictures of women, including some of the Washington Football Team cheerleaders.Īs perplexing and upsetting as Gruden’s actions were, the issue at hand goes far beyond the finding of the emails.
Gruden’s emails were laden with foul language, from homophobic insults toward other NFL officials to racist remarks regarding former President Barack Obama. In a statement announcing his resignation, Gruden apologized, saying he “never meant to hurt anyone.” Nevertheless, the fallout from this scandal has raised a string of questions regarding diversity and accountability within the NFL.įor an organization that decorates its fields and uniforms with “ Inspire Change ” slogans, the room for growth is substantial. Officials found them whilst investigating a workplace misconduct case against Washington Football Team President Bruce Allen. The emails were made public by the New York Times after being uncovered by officials from the National Football League, or NFL. Following the discovery of a series of misogynistic, racist and homophobic emails, Jon Gruden has resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
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