Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera weighs in on Brian Flores lawsuit
Everyone across the NFL is weighing in on the lawsuit former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed on Tuesday. That includes Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, who took time during a conference call Wednesday about the football club officially changing its name to make a lengthy statement in support of Flores.
"I think there's something to be looked at there, I really do," Rivera said. "I think what Brian is doing is really a brave thing, because in this world, in what we do, we've got to be willing to open our eyes and really decide on merit."
Flores filed the class-action lawsuit Tuesday against the NFL and multiple teams alleging they discriminated against him and other Black coaches during their hiring search. Flores was fired by the Dolphins at the conclusion of the 2021 season and has been listed as a candidate for multiple head-coaching vacancies including with the New Orleans Saints.
Even with the craziness currently surrounding him, Rivera believes Flores should get another coaching gig based on merit alone.
"This is a very accomplished coach," Rivera said, via ESPN. "I can see the frustration and I can feel the frustration. It's almost as if this is your last resort. How does a guy like that get left out of the hiring cycle?
"If you put his résumé — and took the name off and changed the team he coached for and grew up with — and put it on the table and looked at all the résumés, Brian Flores is the type of résumé you point at. Let's judge on merit."
Flores said that "more than 40 coaches" could join him in the suit.
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