Jerry Jones Reacts to Jon Gruden’s Resignation, Leaked Email Comments

Jon Gruden resigned Monday night as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in the wake of reports revealing racist, misogynistic and homophobic language in emails.

Gruden was in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100 million contract with the Raiders. Jerry Jones talked about the news during his weekly radio appearance on Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan.

“I know these people. I know everybody you’ve been reading about,” Jones said. “They’re outstanding proponents of our game, they have represented this game in many cases beautifully. Certainly we all continue to recognize what a spotlight you’re in and the way we should express ourselves.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan talked Jon Gruden's emails, resignation. “I know these people. I know everybody that you’ve been reading about. They’re outstanding proponents of our game. They have represented this game in many cases beautifully." Full comments: pic.twitter.com/o3S9pMmmHm

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 12, 2021

Jones declined to comment on whether Gruden should have lost his job.

“I don’t have anything I would want to express one way or the other,” Jones said when asked. “From the standpoint of contribution, I know we all are accountable to even a, if you will, fleeting or minor part of our actions. We all are accountable to those. That’s about all I want to comment on that.

“We’re talking about people here, and even the ones that some of the comments are directed about: those have been outstanding people in the NFL.”

Jerry Jones on Jon Gruden resigning: "I know everybody you've been reading about. They're outstanding proponents of our game. We all continue to recognize what a spotlight you're in and the way we should express ourselves."

Jones declined to say if Gruden should've lost his job.

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 12, 2021

Jones said standards of accountability related to such communication has changed, “daylight and dark.”

“The technology alone but certainly because of the expectation, it’s dramatically changed but they were changing from what they were 30 years ago or 30 years earlier,” Jones said. “We just have to keep your eyes open. The incidents that get portrayed aren’t necessarily a reflection of the individual or a reflection of his life but they certainly are impactful and you are accountable for them. That’s about all I can say. It’s almost like looking at an instance and trying to describe it rather than have an opinion on it.

“The opinion is I wish we could have all things we’re discussing be complete positives. But that’s not life.”

Who knows what skeletons are in Jerry Jones’ email closet?

Live look at Jerry Jones pic.twitter.com/mmWg8ICPQ9

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) October 12, 2021

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