Sportswriter Mike Florio never shies away from letting his opinion be known. That continued on Wednesday, with Florio furious with the current NFL’s handling of Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The defensive play-caller has yet to receive an interview for any of the numerous head coaching vacancies in the NFL, which is a concerning observation to Florio.
Mike Florio: Backs Brian Flores
Florio believes Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores deserves a head coaching opportunity next fall. He points towards the Viking’s struggles to finish the season as a potential roadblock hindering him from getting an interview. However, Florio believes Flores filing suit against the NFL two years ago is the main reason behind the defensive coordinator receiving the cold shoulder this postseason.
Florio said, “The law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who pursue legal rights under federal discrimination statutes. Good luck, however, getting your friendly neighborhood oligarch to overlook the decision of Flores to file suit against Big Shield.”
Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL in 2022, alleging racial discrimination. The former Miami Dolphins frontman believes multiple teams in the league intended only to interview him to fulfill their obligation through the Rooney Rule. This provision makes teams interview persons of color or women for highly valued roles.
Florio continued, “An amazing number of non-lawyers think it’s perfectly fine for an employer to shun an employee who has dared to pursue their legal rights in court. It’s definitely not. The fact that Flores has been ignored when so many other candidates are getting interviews (many of whom have no head-coaching experience, unlike Flores) is concerning.”
Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores: Former NFL HC
Flores led the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021, compiling a 24-25 record. He never made the postseason during his tenure. After a poor first season, Flores led Miami to a double-digit winning season, their first since 2016. However, they again took a step back in 2021, his final with the club. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled under Flores, combining for 25 touchdowns in two seasons. However, Tagovailoa has 54 touchdowns over the past two seasons with new head coach Mike McDaniel.
Flores coached the Minnesota Vikings this past season. His unit allowed 21.3 points per game, the 13th-best mark in the NFL. Minnesota allowed 25.1 points per game the year before Flores.
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