Steelers Hire Brian Flores As Defensive Coach

Topline

The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Brian Flores as senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, the team said Saturday, weeks after the former Dolphins head coach sued the NFL, alleging racial discrimination in hiring of coaches.

Key Facts

Flores, 40, who made his name as a defensive play caller with the New England Patriots, will work with a strong group of linebackers in Pittsburgh, including NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt.

Flores was fired last month after three seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

He filed a lawsuit in federal court February 1 against the NFL, the Dolphins, New York Giants and Denver Broncos, alleging that teams were scheduling sham interviews with minority candidates to appear to comply with the league’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to consider minorities for top positions.

He said in the lawsuit that the league is “rife with racism” and “lives in a time of the past.” 

The league denied accusations of racial discrimination, saying, “Diversity is core to everything we do.” 

Key Background

Roughly 70% of NFL players are black but there is only one Black head coach in the league – Mike Tomlin of the Steelers. Following Flores’ lawsuit, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) called for a congressional investigation into “egregious lack of representation and opportunity for Black leaders in the NFL.” Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) asked for a House subcommittee on consumer protection to “swiftly hold a hearing on the issue of systemic racism” in the league.

Further Reading

Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores joins Pittsburgh Steelers as defensive assistant/LB coach (ESPN)

Steelers hire Brian Flores as senior defensive assistant (Associated Press)

Calls Grow For Congressional Action Over Alleged Racism In NFL After Brian Flores Lawsuit (Forbes)

Ex-Dolphins Coach Brian Flores Sues NFL For Racial Discrimination (Forbes)