Brian Flores entrenched Bill Belichick in the former Miami Dolphins coach’s lawsuit alleging systemic racism in the NFL. Flores did that, because Belichick text messages were a perfect example of what was wrong with the NFL’s hiring processes.
Those texts became the top item in the lawsuit, not because the New England Patriots coach did or said something racist but because he accidentally revealed the New York Giants planned to hire Brian Daboll, a white candidate before they’d even interviewed Flores. Flores’ lawsuit alleges that his interview was, ultimately, a sham and conducted only in the interest of appeasing the Rooney Rule, requiring NFL teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching openings.
During an appearance on I AM ATHLETE on YouTube, Flores said he’s “not mad” at Belichick. He also explained why those text messages were crucial to use in the lawsuit.
“To me, I thought it was specific to the lawsuit in that it confirmed a lot of the things that I thought were going on — that I think a lot of Black or minority coaches think are going on as far,” Flores said. “It kind of confirmed it for me as having a fair and equal opportunity to go and have an interview and show your acumen, show intelligence, show your ability to lead, show your willingness and your leadership. Oftentimes, it’s not a fair and equal playing field.”
Flores clearly has all the respect in the world for Belichick.
“He’s certainly that,” Flores said. “I think the one thing people don’t know about Bill is that he listens. He listens, so if you have — and, again, you’ve gotta earn the right for him to listen — but if you have an idea, a thought, a person (or) there’s a matchup we can win, a part in the game, he’ll listen. He may add something to it. He may through it out. But he listens. I think that’s one of his greatest strengths. I try to take from him when I was in Miami.”
