Brian Flores Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Former Dolphins HC Brian Flores: 'I'm not the only one with a story to tell'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/2/22

In the midst of a widespread NFL head-coaching hiring session, recently fired Miami Dolphins lead man Brian Flores filed a class action lawsuit against the NFL and its 32 teams Tuesday, alleging that racial discrimination led to his termination in January and kept him from being considered for the New York Giants' job. Former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was eventually named the Giants' new head coach last week.

As part of the lawsuit, Flores released screenshots of text messages with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who mistakenly believed he was texting Daboll. Belichick congratulated Daboll on getting the Giants coaching job three days before Flores even interviewed for the position.

Flores made multiple media appearances on Wednesday morning to discuss his experiences as a coach in the NFL.

"We’re either going to keep it the way it is or we’re going to go in another direction and actually make some real change where we’re actually changing the hearts and minds of those who make decisions to hire head coaches, executives, et cetera," Flores said on 'CBS Mornings', per The Athletic. "And that’s what we’ve got to get to. We’ve got to change hearts and minds."

The lawsuit claims that the Giants interviewed Flores for their then-vacant head-coaching job last week despite having already decided to hire Daboll.

"It was a range of emotions. ... Humiliation, disbelief, anger. I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am in football to become a head coach. For 18 years in this league and to go on what felt like, or what was a sham interview, I was hurt," Flores said. "I absolutely want to coach in this league but I also know I’m not the only story here. ... I’m not the only one with a story to tell."

In Flores' three seasons at the helm in Miami, the Dolphins went 24-25 and failed to make the postseason each year. He was fired on Jan. 10 after a second straight winning campaign, as Miami finished the year by winning eight of its final nine to wrap up a 9-8 overall campaign.

Brian Flores, when asked on @CNN how he would feel if he’s coached his final NFL game:

“If there’s change, it’ll be worth it.”
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) February 2, 2022