Brian Flores expands lawsuit against NFL, and the Packers unexpectedly become part of growing situation
Vikings defensive coordinator is suing the league alleging racism in hiring processes. He spent three seasons as the Dolphins head coach.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who’s now the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, intensified his lawsuit against the NFL. This week, according to the Front Office Sports and ESPN, Flores’ legal team served subpoenas to 25 NFL teams in an attempt to obtain hiring records and communications related to his lawsuit.
The teams weren’t revealed. But it likely involves the Green Bay Packers as well.
Initially, Flores included the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos claiming discrimination throughout their hiring processes. While the Dolphins fired Flores, the Giants and Broncos interviewed him with alleged sham processes exclusively to meet the Rooney Rule requirements.
Two months after the initial lawsuit, former NFL coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton were added as plaintiffs, a process that included the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans.
Why it involves the Packers
With six teams already directly involved, and excluding his current employer, the Vikings, Flores has presumably subpoenaed the remaining 25 NFL teams — which includes Green Bay. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Packers are facing punishment, but if the process ultimately requires the organization to turn over hiring records and internal communications, the situation could evolve from there.
Flores’ connection with Green Bay
The Packers did interview Brian Flores, who at the time was the New England Patriots’ linebackers coach and defensive play-caller, to the head coaching position back in 2019. The Packers hired Matt LaFleur, but Flores was a real candidate — and there were also rumors indicating he finished the process as the runner-up candidate.
In that same cycle, Flores was hired by the Dolphins. He spent three seasons in Miami before being fired. Flores spent a season as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach on the Pittsburgh Steelers before taking over the Vikings’ defensive coordinator in 2023. Earlier this offseason, he signed a contract extension with Minnesota to stay in the NFC North.