‘I Don’t Have an Ounce of Racism in Me’: NFL Coach Jon Gruden Responds to Backlash After Reports of Racist, Homophobic and Misogynistic Emails Surface

OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.

NFL coach Jon Gruden resigned from the Raiders organization.

This decision came after reports of racist, homophobic, and misogynistic emails surface from 10 years ago.

Gruden apologized for his language.

Gruden called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a “p***y” and a “f***ot.”

In another email, he called St. Louis Rams player Michael Sam a “queer.”

Gruden wrote that “Dum­b­oriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires.”

“All I can say is I’m not a racist,” Gruden responded.

“I can’t tell you how sick I am,” he said. “I apologize again to De Smith. But I feel good about who I am, what I’ve done my entire life.”

“And I apologize for the insensitive remarks I had,” Gruden continued. “I had no racial intentions with those remarks at all. … I’m not like that at all. But I apologize.”

Gruden continued further, “I can’t remember a lot of the things that transpired 10 or 12 years ago, but I stand here in front of everybody apologizing.”

“I don’t have an ounce of racism in me,” he said. “I’m a guy that takes pride in leading people together.”

“And I’ll continue to do that the rest of my life. And, again, I apologize to De Smith and anybody out there I have offended.”

Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr and much of the team defended Gruden.

“We love you, man. We got your back,'” Carr said.

“We’re just trying to be there to support Coach. I know it’s a hard time for him. … He told us, ‘Men, learn from my mistake.'”

“I love everybody,” Carr said. “I don’t have a racist bone in my body. And I don’t believe that Coach does, either. I really don’t.”