Brian Flores’ attorneys allege racial bias in NFL hiring after recruiting memo is unsealed

Flores’ lawyers argue that language in the report reflects broader discrimination in the league’s head coaching hiring process. The Raiders declined to comment.

A recruiting memo evaluating Brian Flores for an NFL head coaching job is drawing scrutiny after his attorneys argued that the document contains racial stereotypes and could support claims of discrimination and retaliation against the league, according to ABC7 News.

The report, prepared by executive search firm Korn Ferry for the Las Vegas Raiders during a coaching search, was unsealed Tuesday as part of Flores’ ongoing lawsuit against the NFL and several teams. Flores is currently the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

The memo, titled “Brian Flores — Strengths and Weaknesses,” included assessments of his coaching and leadership style, as well as commentary about his upbringing and relationships.

One passage described Flores as “polished and a good presenter despite growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn,” adding that a friendship with a billionaire’s son helped him learn to build relationships with “white-collar and upper-class individuals.”

Flores’ attorneys said that language reflects a racial stereotype suggesting his communication skills and professional polish were unexpected given his background. Attorney Michael Willemin told Front Office Sports that the report portrayed Flores as an “angry Black man.”

The memo also described Flores as someone who could “fool you with his polish upwards” and characterized his personality as unpredictable. It included criticisms of his relationships with players, coaches and team executives, as well as allegations about his conduct in meetings with team leadership.

Flores’ lawyers also questioned the memo’s inclusion of his ongoing lawsuit as a potential weakness, citing the report’s warning that “Ongoing litigation may be a distraction.” They argue the reference is evidence of retaliation for his decision to challenge the league’s hiring practices.

“The recently unsealed documents demonstrate two unfortunate, but unsurprising, realities,” attorney Douglas H. Wigdor told Front Office Sports, arguing that discrimination continues to influence NFL head coaching hires.

Flores sued the NFL, the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the Houston Texans in February 2022, alleging systemic racial discrimination in the league’s hiring process. Former head coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, who are also Black, later joined the lawsuit.

Flores filed the case shortly after being fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders declined to comment on the newly unsealed memo.

The dispute adds another development to Flores’ broader legal challenge over how the NFL evaluates and hires Black head coaching candidates.