Controversy is nothing new for the NFL. Some scandals have rocked the league away from the field, leading to long-term structural changes. From secret tapes to deflated footballs to off-field criminal cases, here are five of the most notorious NFL scandals.
5. Jon Gruden’s Email Controversy (2021)
In 2021, Jon Gruden resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after old emails surfaced. Messages from 2011-2018 included racist, sexist and homophobic language, along with criticism of Commissioner Roger Goodell and player protests.