Gruden reveals he had COVID-19
Coach confirmed he had virus in mid-July
Raiders coach Jon Gruden, still stung about a report he faked having coronavirus as part of a training camp prank, confirmed Monday night that he really did catch COVID-19.
Following the Raiders’ surprising 34-24 victory over the Saints on national television, Gruden casually told reporters at the end of a postgame Zoom interview he had contracted coronavirus.
Gruden’s stunning revelation came at the end of his nine-minute postgame interview after the Raiders’ huge win in their first home game in Las Vegas. The coach left before any follow-up questions could be asked.
“I did,” Gruden confirmed to the Bay Area News Group via text late Monday night, when asked to confirm he said he had coronavirus. “I’m tired of (people) saying I faked it.”
Gruden said he had the virus in mid-July, which was shortly
before the team started training camp in Henderson, Nev., on July 28.
The coach and the Raiders were panned for the initial July report that he had tested positive. The news was dismissed as just a poorly executed training camp prank between he and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia.
Gruden followed up the virus questions by telling the Bay Area News Group Monday night, “I don’t want to be in the middle of the news.”
But that’s where the Raiders’ 57-year-old coach found himself while roaming the sidelines on national television at times without a mask covering his face. The NFL, after all, sent a memo to every team last week reminding them that their coaches must wear masks during games.
Tuesday, Gruden and Saints coach Sean Payton, who were caught on camera not wearing masks for much of the night, were each fined $100,000. The NFL Network was first to report the fines.
The Raiders and Saints will receive $250,000 fines, according to a league source.
The NFL fined the 49ers, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks for the same thing during Sunday’s games. Each team was fined $250,000, while coaches Kyle Shanahan, Vic Fangio and Pete Carroll were fined $100,000.
It was surprising to often see both Gruden and Payton without face coverings on national TV.
Gruden, though, defended himself when asked
“I’ve had the virus, O ?
I’m doing my best. I’m very sensitive about it, but I’m calling plays. Ijustwantto communicate these situations. I apologize, and if I get fined, I will have to pay the fine. I’m very sensitive about all of that and I apologize.”
— Jon Gruden, Raiders coach.
if he was worried about breaking the rule.
“I’ve had the virus, OK? I’m doing my best,” Gruden said at the conclusion of the Zoom session. “I’m very sensitive about it, but I’m calling plays. I just want to communicate these situations. I apologize, and if I get fined, I will have to pay the fine. I’m very sensitive about all of that and I apologize.”
Ironically, Payton also tested positive for COVID-19 in March. The San Mateo-born Saints coach became the first known NFL player or coach known to have had the virus.
Gruden did prove he takes coronavirus seriously after he was asked about fans congregating outside the Raiders’ $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium to celebrate the team christening it with a victory.
“I know fans are out there grooving it and I just hope they wear their masks.”