ESPN columnist Bill Rhoden joins Shep Smith to discuss the lawsuit filed by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who is Black, against the NFL and three teams over what he says are discriminatory and racist hiring practices.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL and all 32 teams alleging racial discrimination in hiring processes across the league. In the suit, Flores specifically named the Dolphins, the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos and cited text messages between himself and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
In the suit, Flores alleges that text messages sent to him by Bill Belichick, while the Patriots head coach mistakenly believed he was messaging Brian Daboll, show that Daboll had already secured the Giants’ head-coaching job, three days before Flores interviewed for the position. Flores contends that his interview with the Giants — along with an interview he had in 2019 with the Broncos — was a sham.
The NFL released a statement saying the claims “are without merit.” The Giants said in a statement they are “pleased and confident” with how their hiring process went. The Patriots declined to comment on the situation when reached Tuesday evening.
The suit also alleges that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered Flores $100,000 for each of the team’s losses in 2019, in hopes of improving Miami’s draft position in 2020. It also alleges that Ross urged Flores to tamper with a prominent quarterback and, after Flores refused to do so, set up an impromptu meeting between Flores and the quarterback.
Flores, who interviewed for the Saints head-coaching job on Tuesday and also interviewed for the Bears‘ and Texans‘ openings in recent weeks, said in a statement, “I understand that I may be risking coaching the game that I love and has done so much for my family and me. My sincere hope is that by standing against the systemic racism in the NFL, others will join me to ensure that positive change is made for generations to come.”
Flores’ account of Giants’ hiring process
The day-by-day details from Brian Flores’ lawsuit, from when he was contacted about the Giants’ position to when Brian Daboll was hired.
Flores is one of six reported candidates to replace Sean Payton in New Orleans. In addition to the Giants, Flores also previously interviewed with the Bears, who hired Matt Eberflus, and twice with the Texans, who have yet to fill the position.
Devin McCourty supports Brian Flores
The Patriots safety, who played for Flores for nine years in New England, tweeted support for his former coach.
“The allegations from Brian Flores directed toward the Denver Broncos in today’s court filing are blatantly false,” the team said in a statement. “Our interview with Mr. Flores regarding our head coaching position began promptly at the scheduled time of 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2019, in a Providence, R.I., hotel. There were five Broncos executives present for the interview, which lasted approximately three-and-a-half hours — the fully allotted time — and concluded shortly before 11 a.m.
“Pages of detailed notes, analysis and evaluations from our interview demonstrate the depth of our conversation and sincere interest in Mr. Flores as a head coaching candidate.
“Our process was thorough and fair to determine the most qualified candidate for our head coaching position. The Broncos will vigorously defend the integrity and values of our organization — and its employees — from such baseless and disparaging claims.”
Flores accuses Broncos of “sham interview” in 2019
Brian Flores contends in his lawsuit that a 2019 interview he had for the Broncos’ head-coaching job was a “sham.”
“The Broncos’ then-General Manager, John Elway, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ellis, and others, showed up an hour late to the interview,” the suit reads. “They looked completely disheveled, and it was obvious that they had drinking heavily the night before. It was clear from the substance of the interview that Mr. Flores was interviewed only because of the Rooney Rule, and that the (Broncos) never had any intention to consider him as a legitimate candidate for the job.”
During that hiring process, the Broncos went on to hire Vic Fangio to replace Vance Joseph.
Flores calls for major structural changes in NFL
Among the changes Brian Flores calls for in his lawsuit are:
- Creating and funding a committee dedicated to sourcing Black investors to become majority NFL owners
- Allowing select Black players and coaches to participate in interviews for GM, head coach and coordinator positions
- Requiring teams to provide the rationale for hiring and firing decisions in writing
- Creating and funding a training program for lower-level Black coaches to advance to coordinator positions
- Incentivizing hiring and retention of Black GMs, head coaches and coordinators through monetary, draft and/or other compensation
- Providing complete transparency of pay for all GMs, head coaches and coordinators
Dolphins issue statement
“We are aware of the lawsuit through the media reports that came out this afternoon,” the team said in a statement. “We vehemently deny any allegations of racial discrimination and are proud of the diversity and inclusion throughout our organization. The implication that we acted in a manner inconsistent with the integrity of the game is incorrect. We will be withholding further comment on the lawsuit at this time.”
Flores alleges Dolphins owner urged him to tamper with QB
The lawsuit accuses Stephen Ross of pressuring Brian Flores to tamper with a “prominent quarterback” after the 2019 season.
“Mr. Flores repeatedly refused to comply with these improper directives,” the suit reads. “Undeterred, in the winter of 2020, Mr. Ross invited Mr. Flores onto a yacht for lunch. Shortly after he arrived, Mr. Ross told Mr. Flores that the prominent quarterback was ‘conveniently’ arriving at the marina. Obviously, Mr. Ross had attempted to ‘set up’ a purportedly impromptu meeting between Mr. Flores and the prominent quarterback.
“Mr. Flores refused the meeting and left the yacht immediately. After the incident, Mr. Flores was treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with.”
NFL issues statement
”The NFL and our clubs are deeply committed to ensuring equitable employment practices and continue to make progress in providing equitable opportunities throughout our organizations,” the league said in a statement released Tuesday evening. “Diversity is core to everything we do, and there are few issues on which our clubs and our internal leadership team spend more time. We will defend against these claims, which are without merit.”
Brian Flores’ lawsuit alleges that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wanted to tank the 2019 season in order to improve the team’s draft position, offering the coach $100,000 per loss.
“He refused his owner’s directive to ‘tank’ for the first pick in the draft,” the suit reads. “Indeed, during the 2019 season, Miami’s owner, Stephen Ross, told Mr. Flores that he would pay him $100,000 for every loss, and the team’s General Manager, Chris Grier, told Mr. Flores that ‘Steve’ was ‘mad’ that Mr. Flores’ success in winning games that year was ‘compromising (the team’s) draft position.'”
The Dolphins started 0-7 in 2019, Flores’ first season with the team, before winning five of their final nine games.
The Athletic NFL Staff
Flores files suit against NFL and all 32 teams
Brian Flores’ full lawsuit was filed Tuesday, the first day of Black History Month.
“While racial barriers have been eroded in many areas, Defendant the National Football League (‘NFL’ or the ‘League’) lives in a time of the past,” the suit reads. “As described throughout this Class Action Complaint, the NFL remains rife with racism, particularly when it comes to the hiring and retention of Black Head Coaches, Coordinators and General Managers.
“Over the years, the NFL and its 32-member organizations (the ‘Teams’) have been given every chance to do the right thing. Rules have been implemented, promises made — but nothing has changed. In fact, the racial discrimination has only been made worse by the NFL’s disingenuous commitment to social equity.”
