Former Head Coach Brian Flores Sues the NFL

By WVUA 23 Digital Reporter Hunter De Siver

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores sued the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and the NFL for racial discrimination in coach hiring practices on Tuesday.

The head coach, who is Black, said he has a long history of being discriminated against by the NFL and its teams.

In 2019, after hiring Flores, he said Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross attempted to incentivize him with $100k to purposely lose each game so Miami could rebuild faster.

In court documents, Flores said he refused that offer and went on to leading the Dolphins to back-to-back winning seasons. But despite those seasons, Flores said he was fired by Ross for disobeying his orders.

In 2003, the NFL created a policy called the Rooney Rule, requiring teams to interview minority candidates in-person for open coaching positions. Currently, only three head coaches in the NFL are minorities.

Flores also alleges the New York Giants hired former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as head coach even before Flores was interviewed for the open position, and that when he interviewed with the Denver Broncos in 2019 his interviewers arrived late and hungover.

This lawsuit isn’t about money, Flores said.  According to the law firm representing him, he wants to “shine a light on the racial injustices that take place inside the NFL.”