A newly unsealed recruiting report on Brian Flores alleges that the NFL used racial stereotypes and amounts to unlawful retaliation for the coach’s discrimination lawsuit, his lawyers say.
The Korn Ferry report, publicly released on Tuesday and obtained by the Associated Press, lists six strengths and seven weaknesses that Flores’ attorneys argue demonstrate the league’s continued reliance on racial stereotypes in hiring and retaliation against him for filing a lawsuit that claims racial discrimination.
The document, originally published by Front Office Sports, was prepared for the Las Vegas Raiders’ head‑coaching vacancy in 2024. Flores now works as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
“The recently unsealed documents reveal two unfortunate but unsurprising realities,” attorney Michael J. Willemin said. “First, Mr. Flores’ decision to hold the league accountable for systemic race discrimination has been met with unlawful retaliation. Second, discrimination continues to play a major role in the NFL’s head‑coach hiring process, as shown by the Raiders’ candidate profile that leans heavily on racial stereotypes.”
Willemin added, “We and Mr. Flores remain committed to eradicating the institutional racism and retaliation that persist within the league, its teams, and their partners.”
The NFL has not yet responded to a request for comment.
One strength listed describes Flores as “polished and a good presenter despite growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn (the same neighborhood as Mike Tyson). He forged a strong friendship with a billionaire’s son, giving him opportunities to socialize and learn how to build relationships with white‑collar and upper‑class individuals.”
Brownsville is a predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhood in Brooklyn.
A weakness cited says Flores “can fool you with his polish but has little people skills, lacks self‑awareness, and can sometimes exhibit erratic behavior.”
The report also includes comments from former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, indicating they had contributed to a narrative that Flores was “pessimistic and adversarial” and that his coaching style “shattered his confidence.”
Other criticisms allege that Flores’ “personality is unpredictable,” that he “once threatened violence to his GM and made irrational demands during an ownership meeting,” and that he “may have changed since, but he was the worst hiring decision we’ve ever made,” according to an unnamed longtime senior executive quoted in the report.
The final weakness listed is that Flores’ ongoing discrimination lawsuit could become a distraction.
Flores, who is Black, sued the NFL and three teams in February 2022, alleging that the league’s hiring practices involving Black coaches were “rife with racism.” He had recently been dismissed as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
Two other Black coaches, Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, subsequently joined the lawsuit.
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