Jon Gruden is the subject of a new, disturbing story following the exposed emails that saw his NFL exit.
According to Jevon Holland’s father, Gruden rubbed his family the wrong way during a Zoom call with the safety, who was a prospect ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft at the time.
Holland was outspoken during his time at Oregon and became a voice for change in his community, which didn’t endear him to everyone.
Speaking in a recent interview on the DolphinsTalk.com podcast, Holland’s father said his son “had this sort of Colin Kaepernick tag” before the draft. But Gruden took things too far when he asked the player whether he planned to change his name to Malcolm X once drafted.
According to the senior Holland, the Las Vegas Raiders called Jevon every day for a week.
“Jon Gruden asked Jevon, ‘Hey, are you going to change your name to Malcolm X when you get into the league?’ And i jumped up, and then Jevon put his hand up and said, ‘No, I got this, Dad.,” he said, per ProFootballTalk.com.
“And, listen, I use my platform to speak for those people who can’t speak, and I’m only speaking for good. And if I’m not the kind of guy who you perceive as speaking for good or doing something wrong, maybe I shouldn’t be part of your organization.’ And he hung up.”
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The Raiders ended up taking tackle Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 pick, with the Miami Dolphins taking Holland at No. 36.
Also Read: REPORT: Former Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden Lands New Job In Football
Jon Gruden Didn’t Coach Much Longer After That
Jon Gruden’s time as an NFL head coach ended that same year after emails sent to Washington exec Bruce Allen while he was at ESPN were leaked to the press.
Given what we know now, that he would say the above to a prospect shouldn’t be all that surprising.
