Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores accused the National Football League of pervasive racial bias, claiming discrimination denied him the top job at the New York Giants.
Flores, who is Black, filed a proposed class action against the league in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, naming the Giants, Dolphins and Denver Broncos as co-defendants. But he said NFL teams have hired very few Black people for the top coaching and front-office jobs, even though approximately 70% of the league’s players are Black.
According to the suit, the league is failing to live up to the "Rooney Rule,” which requires teams to consider minority candidates for head coach, general manager and other positions. Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the only Black head coach in the NFL.