Jon Gruden Resigns as Raiders Coach: How Odds Have Changed For Las Vegas
Pictures by Getty Images. Pictured: Jon Gruden, Derek Carr.
Jon Gruden has resigned as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after the details from a series of racist, misogynistic and homophobic emails he sent while working at ESPN were surfaced by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.
The wide-reaching implications on the Las Vegas Raiders as a football team are hard to say at this point. They're undoubtedly scrambling to fill personnel, and it's unclear which members of Gruden's staff will stay in the near- or long-term. It’s clear some players would’ve liked to see Gruden gone — others expressed public support for the beleaguered coach.
Regardless, in the short-term, the market indicates that it’s now bearish on the Raiders as a result of Gruden’s departure. Las Vegas had been tied for 13th-best favorites to win the Super Bowl at +6000 prior to Monday's news.
After news of Gruden's resignation, the Raiders slipped to +7000, 16th-best favorites at PointsBet.
Las Vegas had been among the highest-risers in the NFL in Super Bowl rankings after shocking bettors and bookmakers alike with a 3-0 start, including marquee wins over the Ravens and at the Steelers.
But two straight losses and the head coach's misconduct have plummeted their odds since. Las Vegas had been as high as +3000, 12th-best favorites to win it all as recently as Week 4.
Odds for the Raiders in their game against the Broncos this weekend have also worsened.
Las Vegas had opened as three-point underdogs on Sunday before dropping to 3.5-point underdogs across the board.
Their moneyline odds had opened in the +130 range and now sit around +150 at every major American sportsbook.
In the emails that spelled Gruden's demise, the coach confirmed to ESPN that he referred to NFL Player Association DeMaurice Smith as having "lips the size of michellin tires.”
In additional emails released by the Times on Monday, Gruden is reported to have called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a homophobic slur and expressed anger that Goodell "pressured" then-Rams coach Jeff Fisher to draft Michael Sam, an openly gay player who was selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Jon Gruden statement: “I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 12, 2021
Gruden also disparaged women referees, said a player that kneeled for the national anthem "should be fired" and sent pornographic photos of women that were only wearing bikini bottoms, including a photo of two Washington Football Team cheerleaders, the Times reported.
Gruden did not respond to requests for comment made by the New York Times.
The NFL Network first reported the news on Monday that Gruden intended to resign.
Gruden is set to forgo the remainder of the 10-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2018.
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