In April, the NFL submitted a request in court to settle the lawsuit brought by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores privately in arbitration.
In a court hearing on Monday, Flores’ lawyer, Doug Wigdor, provided a scathing reaction to the request, calling arbitration “unconscionable.”
- NFL rules require the final decision in an arbitration to be decided by commissioner Roger Goodell.
- Flores’ lawyer said the plaintiffs would want time to prove that Goodell wouldn’t be able to be objective in an arbitration ruling.
It makes sense that the NFL would want the suit, which alleges racially discriminatory hiring practices, to be settled out of the public eye.
The discovery process leading up to a trial could potentially yield more damaging information against the league. Flores’ original complaint included several explosive allegations of its own, including being offered $100,000 for every loss.
Lawsuit Background
Flores, who is Black, was fired from the Dolphins the day after the 2021 season finished — and after winning eight of his last nine games. Flores had a record of 24-25 over three seasons.
He filed the suit in February and was soon joined by former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks and assistant Ray Horton.
Flores, 41, is currently a defensive assistant/linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
![Former NFL Coache Jon Gruden have a laugh while attending an NFL training camp session ten at the Miller Electric Center, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/USATSI_26781802_168422351_lowres-scaled-e1784132043881.jpg?quality=80&w=300)
