Flores v. NFL Discrimination Case to Remain in Court, Judge Says

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL and several teams for race discrimination and retaliation is still lingering “at the starting block” or “as the teams mill about the players’ tunnels,” a federal judge wrote on Wednesday,

But she also wrote that the case is staying in court.

U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni denied motions by the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals and the Miami Dolphins to reconsider whether the case should be dispatched to an arbitration process overseen by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The ruling comes several months after Judge Caproni issued a similar holding in a reconsideration motion by the league and the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. These rulings also apply to claims brought by fellow coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton.

Flores, who sued in 2022, hopes his case is eventually certified as a class action on behalf of all Black head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators, and QB coaches, as well as general managers and Black candidates for those positions who would fall within the applicable statute of limitations.