Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the Baltimore Ravensat Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) NEW YORK - Fired Miami Dolphins Coach Brian Flores sued the NFL and three of its teams Tuesday, saying racist hiring practices by the league have left it racially segregated and managed like a plantation.The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court sought class-action status and unspecified damages from the league, the Dolphins, the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants, along with unidentified individuals.Flores was fired last month by Miami after leading the Dolphins to a 24-25 record over three years.
They went 9-8 in their second straight winning season, but failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.The lawsuit said the firing of Flores was typical for Black coaches who are not given the latitude other coaches receive to succeed.
It noted that Flores led the Dolphins to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003.The improvement came even though, the lawsuit contends, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told Flores he would pay him $100,000 for every loss during the coach's first season because he wanted the club to "tank" so it could get the draft's top pick.The lawsuit alleged that Ross then pressured Flores to recruit a prominent quarterback in violation of the league's tampering rules.