The Tampa Bay Buccaneers say they're reinstating Jon Gruden into their
ring of honor
[February 28, 2025]
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers say they're
reinstating former coach Jon Gruden into the team's ring of honor less
than four years after removing him over his use of racist, homophobic
and misogynistic language in emails he wrote to an NFL executive.
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Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, center, reacts after
being inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor during halftime of an
NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in
Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack,File) |
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“Jon Gruden was initially inducted into the
Buccaneers Ring of Honor based on his many accomplishments
during his seven seasons as our head coach and he remains a
significant figure in the history of our franchise,” the team
said in a statement Thursday. “Upon further reflection, we have
decided to reinstate him into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.”
Gruden was inducted into the Bucs' ring of honor in 2017 and was
removed four years later amid the email scandal, which also led
to his resignation as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach five
games into the 2021 season.
Gruden's comments were in emails written from 2011-18 to
then-Washington club executive Bruce Allen. Gruden was not in
the NFL during those years, when he was an analyst for ESPN. His
emails were collected by independent investigators during an
investigation of sexual harassment allegations and other
workplace conditions at what was at the time known as the
Washington Football Team.
Gruden coached the Buccaneers from 2002-2008, leading them to
their first Super Bowl triumph in his first season in Tampa. He
was 60-57 altogether in seven seasons with the Buccaneers,
including 3-2 in the playoffs.
He was 62-60 with the Raiders, whom he coached from 1998-2001
and again from 2018-21.
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