The Supreme Court has declined to halt the trial in a discrimination lawsuit brought by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL. On Tuesday, the court rejected the league’s attempt to shift the case to arbitration.
Interestingly, Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed dissent, being the sole justice who opted not to hear the case, which is a bit unexpected given the typical alignment in such matters.
Previously, lower courts had sided with Flores and others involved in a class action against the NFL and its franchises. Flores, who is Black, filed his suit in February 2022, just weeks after being let go by the Dolphins.
Flores, with a coaching record of 24-25 over three seasons, is now the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. He argues that the NFL’s hiring practices are deeply entrenched in racism, which is, unfortunately, a sentiment echoed by others in the profession. His fellow Black coaches, Steve Wilkes and Ray Horton, later joined the lawsuit.
The legal representation for Flores stated, “The NFL must recognize that the commissioner cannot serve as the judge for discrimination cases against the league and its teams.” They seem ready to confront these allegations head-on in court.
The NFL has acknowledged the Supreme Court’s ruling, expressing its readiness to defend itself as the legal proceedings move forward.
Flores’ lawsuit also includes claims against several teams, namely the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans, for refusing to hire him following interviews for head coaching roles. Additionally, Wilkes has alleged that the Arizona Cardinals hired him under false pretenses, providing him no real opportunity for success. Horton, for his part, asserts that the Tennessee Titans never formally interviewed him for their head coaching position in 2016.
