Brian Flores, the former football team coach for the Dolphins, filed a lawsuit against the National football league, more widely known as the NFL, and the Giants. The other teams included in this lawsuit were the Denver Broncos and the Dolphins. Flores sued the NFL and the teams for participating in discriminatory hiring practices on the basis of race.
There were several reactions to this lawsuit by those that were involved. John Elway, the president of football operations for the Denver Broncos called the allegations “false and defamatory”. The statement that was released by the Giants described it as “disturbing and simply false”.
This whole situation came about when the New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick allegedly sent text messages to Flores on January 24th. In the texts, it said that the giants were going to hire Daboll as head coach days before Flores’s interview, and then some days later it was announced that Daboll got the position.
On Wednesday for an interview with CBS Mornings, Flores expressed his feelings toward the whole situation by saying he felt humiliation, disbelief, and anger. Flores also expressed that it felt like it was a sham interview. The lawsuit claims that the interview was held in relation to the “Rooney Rule”. The Rooney Rule is in place to make sure minority candidates get interviews for coaching and managerial positions. A rule like this highly mimics tokenism. Tokenism is using performative actions to make it seem like space is inclusive and wants to give the illusion of being an equal opportunistic environment. When in reality a quota is trying to be filled.
Regarding the Rooney Rule, Flores said, “The Rooney Rule is intended to give minorities an opportunity to sit down in front of ownership, but I think what it’s turned into is an instance where guys are checking the box. That being the case,”
