Tom Brady's retirement may not be the biggest story to come out of the NFL this week.
Brian Flores, former Miami Dolphins head coach, has filed a class action lawsuit against the NFL, the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins, claiming racism in his interview process.
In his 58-page lawsuit, Flores claims that his interview with the New York Giants was done solely so the Giants would comply with the "Rooney Rule," which states that NFL teams must interview minority candidates for head coaching and football operations opportunities in senior manager positions.
A miscommunication in texts from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick cemented the notion to Flores. Belichick, who thought he was texting Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, congratulated Flores on his new head coach gig for the Giants. Flores, who had not yet interviewed with the Giants, responded in confusion as to whether Belichick knew who he was texting. Belichick apologized, and said "I double checked and misread the text. I think they are naming Brian Daboll. I'm sorry about that." Flores had worked under Belichick as assistant coach for ten years. Brian Daboll was in fact named the Giants' head coach on January 28th.
Flores also claims that then-General Manager of the Denver Broncos John Elway and CEO Joe Ellis showed up an hour late and 'completely disheveled' to his coaching interview in 2019. "It was obvious that they had [been] drinking heavily the night before," the lawsuit alleges, and that their appearance proves that they had no intention of hiring Flores. The Broncos would later hire Vic Frangio, who is white, as head coach.
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The lawsuit further states that Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross incentivized Flores to purposefully lose games for the Dolphins, offering him $100,000 for each loss. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told Flores that Ross was "mad" at his success later in the season, potentially costing the Dolphins their draft position. Flores was dismissed by the Dolphins last month, ending his Miami career with a record of 24-25 over the course of three years. Speaking on his tenure with the Dolphins, Flores says he was "treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with."
The lawsuit makes clear that, despite 70% of NFL players being Black, there is only one Black head coach in the NFL (Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers). Flores is calling for an increase influence of Black individuals in the hiring process, and longer retention of Black GMs, coaches, and coordinators.
Brian Flores recognizes he may never coach in the NFL again as a result of the lawsuit, but hopes this exposure may help future coaches and shine a light on injustices in the NFL.