Tony Dungy Stands By His Initial Backing Of Jon Gruden

When the first racist email was leaked from Jon Gruden’s account last week, Tony Dungy went out on a limb to defend his longtime friend.

“I’m not gonna chalk everything up to racism. I think we accept his apology, move forward and move on just like he did with this team,” Dungy said at the time.

Tony Dungy and Mike Tirico are rightfully taking all the Ls after camping for Gruden’s bigoted ass last night pic.twitter.com/xOqChLhNeq

— Chris Uno Cero (@ceroto60) October 12, 2021

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After Tony Dungy was heavily criticized for his take on Jon Gruden, he sent out a series of tweets to try to explain himself.

On @SNFonNBC I commented on an e mail sent by Jon Gruden. I did not defend it. I said “inappropriate, immature, attack on a man’s character. Wrong!” I did not attribute it all to racism and said given a single incident 10 yrs ago we should accept his apology and move on.

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) October 12, 2021

Now more e mails have come. More inappropriate, immature, wrongful attacks on the character of people from all walks of life. I don’t defend those either and given the apparent pattern of behavior the Raiders did the appropriate thing in terminating Jon Gruden.

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) October 12, 2021

That being said, if Jon Gruden shows TRUE remorse-and more importantly changes his mindset and actions-I would forgive him. As Christians that’s what the Bible commands us to do because that’s what God does for us. I know that’s not popular but it’s biblical. pic.twitter.com/yrhFU3i7o7

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) October 12, 2021

Tony Dungy clearly believes there should be a road back for Jon Gruden, even after he turned in his resignation and has been condemned by nearly every sports voice over the last 24 hours.

Unfortunately for Gruden, I don’t think Dungy is right about this one.

When the latest emails got released, they may as well have been a one-way ticket to an early retirement.

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