Brian Flores vows to continue lawsuit against NFL despite hiring by Steelers
Brian Flores, the former Miami Dolphins head coach who is suing the NFL over discrimination claims, has found a new job with a new team.
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Saturday that Flores will serve as their senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach next season.
"Brian's resume speaks for itself, and I look forward to him adding his expertise to help our team," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement.
Flores’ attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor, of Wigdor LLP, and John Elefterakis, of EEP Law, said in a statement on Saturday that his lawsuit against the league will continue.
“We congratulate Coach Flores on his new position with the Steelers and thank Coach Tomlin and the organization for giving him this great opportunity," the statement said. "While Coach Flores is now focused on his new position, he will continue with his race discrimination class action so that real change can be made in the NFL.”
Flores' suit contends the league has discriminated against Black coaches for head roles, and cited an experience where he said he was offered an interview for a head coach spot with the New York Giants.
The 40-year-old was fired by the Dolphins last month after back-to-back winning seasons and was interviewing with other teams.
Flores said he texted with his mentor, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, about the upcoming meeting.
Belichick allegedly sent texts congratulating Flores on getting hired by the Giants before the interview took place, according to screenshots of the texts that were included in the lawsuit.
Belichick later allegedly texted back indicating that he'd made a mistake and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was actually getting the job -- three days before Flores' interview, according to the screenshots.
The league has denied any wrongdoing and said in a statement that Flores' claims were "without merit."
Flores told ABC News earlier this month that the league's response was a "slap in the face" because there was only one Black head coach in the NFL at the time -- the Steelers' Tomlin -- despite the fact Black players make up 70% of the league.
"There's a little bit of a fantasy land that would leave them to feel like, you know, these things are without merit," he told ABC News.
The Houston Texans hired Lovie Smith, the league's second Black coach, since Flores' filing. Mike McDaniel, who was hired by the Dolphins to replace Flores, has said he is biracial.
"First and foremost, I'm biracial. My mom's white, my dad's Black," McDaniel told ESPN in an interview earlier this month. "I've been extremely proud of that my whole life."
The NFL said this week it hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the first Black female attorney general, to help defend itself in the suit.
ABC News' Stephanie Wash contributed to this report.
Bob Gallerstein reports for ABC Audio:
