Gruden suing NFL, Goodell for alleged 'orchestrated' leaking of emails

Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is suing the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell for allegedly leaking his emails in a "malicious and orchestrated campaign" in order to destroy his career and reputation, Gruden's attorney told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Gruden resigned last month after emails in which he made racist, homophobic, and misogynistic comments surfaced.

"There is no explanation or justification for why Gruden's emails were the only ones made public out of the 650,000 emails collected in the NFL's investigation of the Washington Football Team, or for why the emails were held for months before being released in the middle of the Raiders' season," Gruden's attorney said in a statement.

The lawsuit, obtained by Pelissero, refers to the alleged ordeal as a "Soviet-style character assassination" with no warning or process.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy called the allegations "entirely meritless" and said the league will vigorously defend itself against the claims.

Gruden's emails spanned during his time with ESPN as a color analyst from 2009-2017. They were sent to former Washington executive Bruce Allen, among others.

Gruden's resignation came in the midst of his fourth season with the Raiders. He was reportedly under a 10-year, $100-million deal with the club.