© 2026 ABC News

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.”

\"PHOTO:
Paul Childs/Reuters, FILE
PHOTO: Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores during a press conference, Oct. 15, 2021, in Ware, Britain.
>

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.

\"PHOTO:
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters, FILE
PHOTO: Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores runs off the field after winning the game against the New York Jets, Dec 19, 2021, Miami Gardens, Fla.
>

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:

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Sports/brian-flores-hired-pittsburgh-steelers-assistant-coach/story?id=83003132","legacySlug":"/living/story/brian-flores-hired-pittsburgh-steelers-assistant-coach-83003132","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"23:04","publishDate":"02-19-2022","updatedTime":"00:04","updatedDate":"02-20-2022","socialImage":{"alt":"Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores during a press conference, Oct. 15, 2021, in Ware, Britain.","credit":"Paul Childs/Reuters, FILE","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Sports/Flores-1-rt-er-220219_1645297575440_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"2/19/2022 23:04:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":83003132,"headline":"Steelers hire Brian Flores as assistant coach","mediaAssetTitle":"Flores Hired","description":"Former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is suing for racial discrimination.","duration":"1:59","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/02/220219_wn_norman_841_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Steelers hire Brian Flores as assistant coach","description":"Former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is suing for racial discrimination.","duration":"1:59","uploadDate":"02-19-2022","publication":"02-19-2022","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/02/220219_wn_norman_841_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/02/220219_wn_norman_841_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/brian-flores-hired-pittsburgh-steelers-assistant-coach-83003132"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132200241","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"Steelers hire Brian Flores as assistant coach","pubTime":"18:04","pubDate":"02-19-2022","modTime":"19:04","modDate":"02-19-2022","taxonomyTags":"none","id":83003132,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Steelers hire Brian Flores as assistant coach","mediaAssetTitle":"Flores Hired","videoId":83003132,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/living/story/brian-flores-hired-pittsburgh-steelers-assistant-coach-83003132"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/83003132","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/83003132","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};