“Got Hate in Their Heart”: Former NFL Star Slams Former Raiders Coach Jon Gruden For Releasing Him Without Explanation

Posted on by Jack Marks

Marquette King, a former Raiders punter who recently claimed that he feels that prejudice caused the end of his career as one of the few Black punters in the NFL, claims that when Jon Gruden was appointed as the Raiders’ head coach, King’s fate was set. Less than three months after the Raiders gave Jon Gruden a 10-year deal, King was cut by the team on March 20th, 2018.

King’s release seems to have a lot to do with the Raiders’ new leadership. King signed a three-year, $7 million deal with the Denver Broncos on April 5.

Raiders Marquette King
November 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King (7) before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

King, who has openly trained in Arizona since 2019, was said to be on the Arizona Cardinals’ radar during the 2021 offseason. In the end, the Cardinals decided not to sign him. He is now a free agent.

ALSO READ: REPORT: NFL Still Short of $14 Billion Than the 2027 Target Revenue Goal

Marquette King opens up on Raiders release

King claimed that up until Reggie McKenzie, the team’s general manager at the time, told him that Gruden was letting him go, he believed he was in good standing with the organization.

“I showed up to the facility one morning … I came with gifts and everything,” King said in an exclusive interview on the latest episode of Audacy’s Silver And Black Today – A Las Vegas Raiders Show.

“As soon as I showed up, Reggie was telling me that Gruden doesn’t want me there. We’re about to let you go, we’re gonna put you on the wire, and it’s gonna hit the news soon… I don’t know, some people just got hate in their heart.”

 

King would have appreciated the opportunity to speak with Gruden, but he never had it. At the time, there were rumors to the effect that King’s personality issues were more of a concern for Gruden than his punting. King’s most recent remarks appear to confirm that.

More NFL news: 

Follow our NFL page for more key NFL updates and news