A few weeks ago Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was praising his former boss Jon Gruden who led Tampa to a Super Bowl victory in 2002.
Now, Tomlin said he is “saddened” by the situation after Gruden resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night over released emails from the past in which Gruden uses racist, homophobic and misogynistic language.
Tomlin began his coaching career as a college assistant at age 23. Gruden gave him his first NFL job. He was a 29-year-old defensive backs coach for the Buccaneers.
“The positive energy that he consistently brings to whatever challenge that the job presents helped me and helped me grow in a big way as a coach when I worked for him as a young guy,” Tomlin said before the Steelers Week Two matchup against the Raiders.
On Tuesday, during his weekly press conference Tomlin said, “I’m just saddened by it, I’m saddened for the Raiders organization, I’m saddened for the people that were offended by it, I’m saddened for coach Gruden, It’s a sad commentary and that’s really the only opinion that I care to share at this juncture.”
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Gruden released the following statement after his resignation.
"I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone."