Jon Gruden’s NFL Lawsuit Takes A Troubling Turn
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Jon Gruden’s legal battle with the NFL just hit another wall, and a recent court hearing brought up new questions about how he handled evidence. The former Raiders coach is trying to get millions from the league, but the judge is losing patience with him and his lawyers.
Gruden sued the NFL after leaked emails showed him taking shots at Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league figures, which forced him out as head coach back in 2021. The lawsuit has dragged out for years and seemed to finally make some progress in August, but the judge called out Gruden and his team for not following court rules.
Now, a missing BlackBerry phone is causing even more headaches. Hearing transcripts show the judge questioned Gruden’s story about what happened to the phone and openly doubted if his team was telling the truth.
Judge Questions Gruden’s Account Of Missing BlackBerry
The BlackBerry phone became a key issue during the recent hearing. Gruden reportedly told his attorney, Adam Hosmer-Henner, that he owned an old BlackBerry that he could not turn on. However, questions about the device’s whereabouts prompted the judge to challenge that explanation.
“So did your client lie to you about a BlackBerry?” Judge Hardy asked.
“It’s not a lie, Your Honor, it’s a mistake,” Hosmer-Henner replied.
The judge also asked whether anyone from the legal team had checked Gruden’s home to confirm that the phone existed. Hosmer-Henner said his office had not sent anyone to search Gruden’s Florida home.
The attorney also explained that Gruden had recently attended an event at the White House. Gruden flew back that night to allow NFL-selected forensic examiners to examine his electronic devices.
However, that explanation did not satisfy Judge Hardy. The judge pushed back against the idea that Gruden’s schedule deserved special treatment.
“And you, on behalf of your client, keep saying things that seem to indicate, well, Mr. Gruden is super important and super special,” Hardy said.
The judge then made his concerns clear, “We have no reason to trust representations by Mr. Gruden.”
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio also criticized Gruden’s handling of the case. Florio argued, “So, no, it’s not going well for Gruden. And it’s his own fault. At best, he has failed to honor the duty to comply with the rules of the legal process he initiated.” He also raised the possibility that Gruden could be hiding a device containing damaging communications.
Those concerns could create another hurdle for Gruden as he pursues millions from the NFL. If he loses the lawsuit, he could also face financial consequences.
For now, the dispute over the BlackBerry has put Gruden’s credibility under greater scrutiny.
