The National Football League has a huge issue on its hands.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores made his first public comments about the class-action lawsuit he filed against the NFL, New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, alleging racial discrimination during the hiring process.
On CBS morning show, Flores said he hopes the filing would “create some change.”
“We didn’t have to file a lawsuit for the world to know there’s a problem from a hiring standpoint in regards to minority coaches in the National Football League. The numbers speak for themselves. We filed a lawsuit so that we can create some change, and that’s important to me. We’re at a fork in the road right now,” he said. “We’re either gonna keep it the way it is, or we’re gonna go in another direction and actually make some real change where actually changing the hearts and minds of those who make decisions to hire head coaches, executives, etc. We gotta change hearts and minds.”
Flores alleged the Giants told third parties they were hiring Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator as Brian Daboll as their next head coach. Flores pointed to a text message exchange with Bill Belichick, who appeared to think he was texting Daboll and not Flores about getting the job.
He would then head to ESPN on Get Up and drop even more damning statement that multiple coaches have been in contact with him and his lawyer that revealed that they were also offered payments to lose, just like he alleges Stephen Ross offered him $100K.
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The Dolphins finished the 2019 season 5-11 after winning their final two games and received the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft. According to the lawsuit, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told Flores that Ross was “mad” that too many wins were “compromising [the team’s] draft position.”
The lawsuit says that “after the incident, Mr. Flores was treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with.”
Flores was fired by the Dolphins in January after posting a a 24–25 record over three years with Miami, having narrowly missed the playoffs in his final two seasons.
The Dolphins responded to the allegations in a statement.
“We are aware of the lawsuit through the media reports that act out this afternoon,” the statement reads, per ProFootballTalk. “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.”
