00:00Former NFL head coach John Gruden may get his wish when it comes to his lawsuit against the league, a public trial.
00:07The Nevada Supreme Court rejected the NFL's latest appeal that the suit be settled in arbitration.
00:15All seven justices signed the order rejecting the league's petition.
00:20The last legal resort left for the NFL is an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ESPN reported Thursday night is likely.
00:28Gruden resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 after emails he sent to then-Washington General Manager Bruce Allen were leaked.
00:38Those emails contained racist, sexist, and anti-gay comments directed at Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league personnel, while Gruden was an on-air analyst at ESPN in 2011.
00:50Gruden's lawsuit accuses the league and Goodell of trying to destroy his career and reputation using a malicious and orchestrated campaign to get him fired.
01:01The NFL has long used a closed-door internal arbitration process to settle disputes and legal claims involving coaches, players, and other current or former employees.
01:12Commissioner Goodell is often the final arbitrator in most cases, including those involving the league as defendant.
01:19This process keeps any of the NFL's potential dirty laundry from being made public in a courtroom.
01:25The Nevada court said that process does not apply to Gruden, as he is not a current employee.
01:30By its own unambiguous language, the NFL Constitution no longer applies to Gruden.
01:36The court said if the NFL Constitution were to bind former employees, the commissioner could essentially pick and choose which disputes to arbitrate.
01:44A similar legal ruling went in favor of former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in August.
01:51A federal appeals court said Flores' discrimination lawsuit against the NFL can go to trial as opposed to arbitration.
01:59The NFL has asked for another review of that case.
02:02Flores is the current defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
02:06If the U.S. Supreme Court passes on the Gruden v. NFL case, the league would have to face Gruden in court, barring a settlement.
02:14That would open the door to discovery and testimony.
02:17Gruden did not comment on Thursday's ruling, but spoke to ESPN in August about the Nevada court's initial ruling in his favor.
02:24Gruden has not coached in the NFL since he resigned from the Raiders in 2021.
02:41He joined Barstool Sports as a commentator and analyst in 2024.
02:46For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis.
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