In the wake of a shocking Washington Post report on a sexual harassment scandal involving Washington NFL executives, former Washington safety D.J. Swearinger is calling for high-ranking members of the organization to be “exposed.”
Swearinger, now with the New Orleans Saints, shared what he claims to be a text message exchange with former Washington coach Jay Gruden, who was fired in 2019. Swearinger was released by Washington in 2018 after he publicly criticized then-defensive coordinator Greg Manusky. Earlier that month, on December 8th, 2018, Swearinger had told reporters not to blame the players for the Redskins’ defensive struggles. In a text message marked December 8th, Swearinger says Gruden texted him, starting the conversation with a profane message: “Wanna play? Let’s [expletive] play.”
In the caption, Swearinger wrote that he “was gonna give [Gruden] a pass but after what’s going on with that organization with women,” he decided to speak out about his experience.
“So Let’s Set The Record Straight on Why & How Things Went South For Me In Washington. To All My Athletes, Imagine Getting A Text Like This From Your Head Coach @ 10 @ night about an interview where you thought you handled It Professionally after getting blew Out 40-16 by Giants. This Is When I Lost Respect For The Washington Staff & Head Coach.
He Wanted Me To Act Out But I Handled It Professionally & The Next Day He Told Me That Somebody Told Him That I Said Something About him in the interview but when he watched the interview he realized that person was lying & he actually agreed with everything I said. Soooo as a player how would you look @ your coach for the rest of the season?! How can you motivate yourself to play for a guy who talks to you less than a man?!
Being the man I am I couldn’t be myself after this & that is what lead me to my last interview in which I said a few things that were true but not on the right stage or platform. Understand It’s A Cause & Effect To Everything In Life!!! As A Man You Have To Find Your Peace Through All The Negativity & Move Fwd!! I Was Gonna Give The Man A Pass but after what’s going on with that organization with women! They all need to be exposed. I have a daughter to raise!”
