Brian Flores remains in the running for two NFL head-coaching positions after filing a class action lawsuit against the league and its 32 clubs for discriminatory hiring practices.
Flores, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and retired NFL quarterback Josh McCown are the finalists for the Houston Texans’ vacant position, multiple reports said Thursday.
Flores, who also interviewed for the New Orleans Saints’ job and remains a possibility there, filed suit Tuesday to allege, among other things, that the New York Giants had already decided to hire Brian Daboll as their next coach before Flores’ interview took place.
Flores is Black, and only one NFL team currently has a Black head coach — Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The league’s Rooney Rule, which requires that teams interview at least two external minority candidates for head-coaching jobs, is under scrutiny as some believe teams are only interviewing minority candidates to check a box.
The Miami Dolphins fired Flores after the 2021 season despite Miami finishing with a winning record in back-to-back seasons. In his suit, Flores alleged that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wanted the team to tank in 2019 and offered the coach $100,000 per loss.
The Dolphins, Giants and the league have denied Flores’ accusations.
Flores said Wednesday he informed the Texans and Saints of his intentions to file the suit.
The Texans fired coach David Culley — who is also Black — after one season, in which he produced a 4-13 record amid a rebuilding year.
Gannon and McCown are white. Neither candidate has been a head coach before, but previous reports had indicated that Houston especially favored McCown, who played 16 NFL seasons for nine teams in a journeyman career.
Gannon, 39, just completed his first season as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator.
–Field Level Media