The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reinstating Jon Gruden into their Ring of Honor, the team announced Thursday. Gruden’s name was removed in October 2021 one day after he resigned as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach following a New York Times report that revealed he used racist, homophobic and sexist language in emails.
“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 franchise said in a statement Thursday announcing the organization’s decision.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 27, 2025
When he was removed from the Ring of Honor, the Bucs said Gruden’s actions “go against our core values as an organization.”
Gruden — who coached the Buccaneers from 2002-2008 and led them to a win in Super Bowl XXXVII — did not respond to a request for comment.
In the emails, Gruden directed homophobic slurs and expletives at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, denounced the emergence of women as referees, exchanged photos of women wearing only bikini bottoms (including a photo of two Washington cheerleaders) and said Eric Reid, the former safety who knelt during the national…
