The Pittsburgh Steelers appointed former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores as senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach, the team announced Saturday.
Flores' hire comes just a month after Miami was fired after three seasons and 18 days after he filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL and three of its teams, including the Dolphins, for racist recruiting practices. A pattern was alleged. Leagues and other forms of racial discrimination.
"I am excited to have Brian Flores join our coaching staff given his history of developing and teaching defensive players during his time in the NFL," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. "Brian's resume speaks for itself, and I look forward to adding his expertise to help our team."
Flores was being considered for several major coaching jobs in this recruitment cycle before and after filing his suit. Flores interviewed with the New York Giants, Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints. The Giants' job went to Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Dabol, while Houston and New Orleans promoted their in-house defensive coordinators, Lowy Smith and Dennis Allen, respectively.
Flores, who is black, was let go by the Dolphins last month after setting a 24-25 record in three campaigns from Miami. The Finns went 9-8 in 2021, winning their second consecutive season, but failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.
Flores' attorneys, Douglas H. Vigdor and John Eleftrakis released a statement Saturday announcing that the trial would proceed regardless of whether the Steelers hired Flores.
"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 read. “While Coach Flores is now focused on his new position, he will continue his race discrimination class action to make real change in the NFL.”
The coach alleged in the suit that while he was with the Dolphins, team owner Stephen Ross told Flores that he would pay him $100,000 for every loss during the coach's first season because he wanted the club to "tank". so that he could get a top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, which was eventually used by the Cincinnati Bengals to select quarterback Joe Burrow.
The NFL is investigating Flores' allegations against Ross.
Flores also alleged that the Denver Broncos and Giants held a "sham" interview with him to satisfy Rooney's rule when he interviewed him for his head coaching positions in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
After Flores' lawsuit was filed, the league said it would defend itself against claims it called "without merit". The Dolphins, Broncos and Giants also denied Flores' allegations. The NFL recently hired a law firm that enlists former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch to defend itself and its teams in the lawsuit.
The NFL amended the Rooney rule, named after former Steelers owner and then-chairman of the Workplace Diversity Committee, Dan Rooney, in 2020 to determine teams must interview at least two minority candidates who are a Are not attached to your team for Head Coaching Vacancy. Also, a minority candidate is to be interviewed for coordinating positions as well as for higher positions in the front office including the role of General Manager.
In Pittsburgh, Flores will join a defensive staff that is without Steelers assistant Keith Butler for the first time in 19 years; Butler retired this offseason as Tomlin's defensive coordinator after seven seasons. To replace Butler, the Steelers hired Teryl Austin, who was Pittsburgh's senior defensive assistant (Flores' new role) and secondary coach from 2019 to 2021.
Flores will have the opportunity to train a talent-packed defense in Pittsburgh, but one that, after ranking in the top 10 and points allowed in recent years, will move to 24th and 20th, respectively, in 2021. Gone. Still, the Steelers defense boasts many all-pros defensive player of the year, like TJ Watts on the outside linebacker, and will be the team's strength in 2022.
The ex-Dolphins coach will also serve under Tomlin, who at one point was the only black head coach in the NFL this winter after Flores and former Texans head coach David Cooley was fired. Smith and Mike McDaniel, who are multi-racial, are hired by Houston and Miami respectively, giving the NFL three black head coaches and five minority head coaches.