Brian Flores may change the way the NFL settles disputes.
He won a major victory in the U.S. Supreme Court recently when they let stand an appellate court ruling that he could take his racial discrimination court against the NFL to court instead of it having it determined in a league controlled arbitration process overseen by the commissioner.
That means team owners and executives and even commissioner Roger Goodell will likely have to give depositions and there will be discovery so Flores’ lawyers get a look at what is in the team files.
For example, Flores claims that when he filed the lawsuit owner Stephen Ross tried to reclaim some of the money he had already paid Flores in an attempt to retaliate. And sent a letter to Goodell. That letter should be in the files of the league or the Dolphins or both.
Flores filed the class-action lawsuit in 2022 and an appeals court ruled he could get a court hearing rather than having it go to arbitration. The Supreme Court didn’t take the case, so the appellate court ruling stands.
Flores has claimed the NFL of systematic discrimation against black coaches. Flores, now the defensive coordinator of the Vikings, said he was asked to have sham interviews with the Giants and Broncos to follow the “Rooney Rule.” Two more black coaches, Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, have joined the suit. Among other things, Flores wants teams to explain hiring and firing decisions in writing.
Flores was fired after posting a 24-25 record for three years without a playoff season, although he had back-to-back winning seasons before being fired.
This could be a long court fight, and the league could decide to settle. But Flores has already set a precedent for NFL employees to go to court when they have a dispute with the league.
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