Ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden hired as Milano Seamen advisor

Former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is back in football, but nowhere near the NFL.

The 60-year-old Gruden was named an advisor of the European League of Football's Milano Seamen in Italy in his first tull-time football role since he resigned November 2021 during a firestorm over the contents of inflammatory emails he claimed were leaked by the NFL.

"We're excited to announce that American football legend, Jon Gruden, will work with us as advisor. Gruden won in 2002 Super Bowl with Tampa Bay. Gruden will help us to improve our organization in every aspect. He already started to work with our coaching staff," Milano said in a statement on Wednesday.

Gruden's lawsuit against the NFL is ongoing in Nevada. The NFL is attempting to have the suit thrown out by courts on the basis that Gruden didn't use the contract-mandated arbitration process.

In January, reports surfaced that Gruden could be in line to join the New Orleans Saints as part of Dennis Allen's staff.

Until the suit is settled, it's unlikely Gruden will coach or work in the NFL.

Gruden accused the NFL of leaking emails he wrote to then-Washington Commanders president Bruce Allen from 2011-18 that were rife with racist and homophobic remarks and highly critical of Goodell. The leaked emails stoked public outrage against Gruden, eventually leading to his resignation as head coach of the Raiders -- an outcome he said the league manipulated.