Ryan Russell, an openly bisexual NFL free agent, was just like everybody the New York Times dropped more damning information from Jon Gruden during the years of 2011 to 2018 of him using homophobic, racist and misogynistic language in emails while he worked as an ESPN analyst.
Russell, who came out as bisexual in 2019 and who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, told he was sickened by Jon Gruden’s behavior.
“I was deeply upset, shocked, appalled even that a leader of an organization, a leader of young men, football culture in general, would have so many negative, derogatory, hateful really, discriminatory things to say about so many different kinds of people,” Russell says.
The 29-year-old 5th round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2015 thinks progress has been done with players like Carl Nassib being open about his sexuality.
“I think there’s definitely been progress” … just nowhere near enough.
“We’re not done yet. There’s much further we need to go, and much more we need to do. There’s still work that needs to be done.”
Russell also spoke with CNN.
“I don’t think it’s enough, I think it’s reactive of the investigation of what is happening,” Russell said Tuesday.
“I think the next step that the league needs to take is being proactive in making sure that the coaches that they hire, the players that they draft, the organization that they form are being inclusive, are being supportive and are held to that standard not when things come to light but all the time.
“That’s accountability, doing the right thing when no one is looking. The integrity level is what is being challenged here.”
On Monday, the New York Times reported it reviewed more emails and found Gruden denounced women being employed as on-field officials, a team drafting an openly gay player and the tolerance for national anthem protesters. Aside from his statement on the first racist email and leaving the Raiders organization, Gruden has not spoken out about the many emails he has written that were obtained by The New York Times.
In the wake of those leaked emails, the Tampa Bay Bucs have decided to remove him from their Ring of Honor and Skechers has also parted ways with him.
