Unsealed Memo Links NFL Hiring to Racial Stereotypes
Brian Flores' lawyers allege a recently unsealed recruiting memo used racial stereotypes and evidence of retaliation to evaluate the coach for a head coaching role.
Attorneys for Brian Flores, the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, allege that a recently unsealed recruiting memo contains racial stereotypes and evidence of unlawful retaliation. The document, prepared by executive search firm Korn Ferry for the Las Vegas Raiders during a 2024 head coaching search, evaluated Flores' strengths and weaknesses.
Lawyers for Flores argue the memo portrays him as an "angry Black man," specifically citing a section that describes him as polished "despite growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn." The document also noted that a friendship with a billionaire's son helped him build relationships with "white-collar and upper-class individuals." In the weaknesses column, the memo characterized Flores as having a "chip on his shoulder," being "unpredictable," and potentially a "distraction" due to his ongoing litigation against the league.
Flores originally sued the NFL, the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans in February 2022, alleging systemic racism in hiring practices. He was later joined by coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton. While the NFL has denied the allegations as being "without merit," a federal judge recently rejected the league's attempt to move the case to arbitration, ruling that Flores can bring his claims to trial. The Las Vegas Raiders have declined to comment on the memo.
