(Reuters) -Jon Gruden mentioned on Monday he has resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after the New York Occasions reported he had used racist, misogynistic and homophobic language in emails over a number of years.

The emails mocked the drafting of a homosexual participant in 2014, the hiring of girls referees, tolerance for participant protests aimed toward selling racial justice and the league’s emphasis on lowering concussions, the Occasions reported earlier on Monday.

A league supply confirmed the accuracy of the report back to Reuters.

“I’ve resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” Gruden mentioned in an announcement.

“I like the Raiders and don’t need to be a distraction. Thanks to all of the gamers, coaches, employees, and followers of Raider Nation. I am sorry, I by no means meant to harm anybody.”

Raiders proprietor Mark Davis mentioned in an announcement he had accepted Gruden’s resignation with out elaborating.

The crew mentioned Wealthy Bisaccia would function interim head coach, efficient instantly.

The emails got here to the NFL’s consideration throughout a evaluate of office misconduct on the Washington Soccer Staff that was accomplished this summer season.

Gruden’s emails had been despatched to Bruce Allen, the previous president of the Washington Soccer Staff, and others whereas Gruden was working as an analyst for ESPN, in response to the Occasions.

Gruden additionally referred to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell utilizing a homophobic slur, it added.

On Friday the NFL known as an electronic mail by the Tremendous Bowl successful coach in 2011 that included a racist slur directed at NFL Gamers Affiliation (NFLPA) chief DeMaurice Smith, who’s Black, “abhorrent”.

Gruden, who’s white, mentioned he regretted the e-mail however mentioned he didn’t have “a blade of racism” in him.