As the N.F.L. season comes to a close, we’re looking at a class-action lawsuit that Brian Flores, a former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, has filed against the league.At the heart of the case is the Rooney Rule, a policy the league implemented two decades ago that has since been adopted across corporate America.We explore the lawsuit and the Rooney Rule, and we hear from Cyrus Mehri, a civil rights lawyer who helped create the policy.Guest: Ken Belson, a reporter covering the N.F.L. for The New York Times.Have you lost a loved one during the pandemic? The Daily is working on a special episode memorializing those we have lost to the coronavirus. If you would like to share their name on the episode, please RECORD A VOICE MEMO and send it to us at [email protected]. You can find more information and specific instructions here.Background reading: Brian Flores has sued the N.F.L. and its 32 teams alleging that they discriminated against him and other Black coaches in their hiring practices.After Mr. Flores’s lawsuit and a cycle in which only two nonwhite head coaches were hired, the Rooney Rule, the N.F.L.’s biggest diversity initiative, is facing new scrutiny.Those close to Mr. Flores say his lawsuit is in keeping with the sense of moral rectitude instilled in him by his mother as he grew up in a Brooklyn housing project.Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, subscribe to our newsletter. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
A former head coach of the Miami Dolphins has sued the NFL for racial discrimination in its hiring practices. The plaintiff, Brian Flores, was also a scouting assistant with the New England Patriots during their Super Bowl appearances.
The story of a civil rights lawyer and his journey in the field of civil rights litigation, including taking on landmark cases surrounding diversity in corporate America and being influenced by the civil rights movement at a young age.
Black head coaches in the NFL have faced discrimination, being hired later and fired sooner than their white counterparts. Despite this, a report shows black head coaches went to the playoffs twice as often as white head coaches.
A former NFL coach recounts the origins and impact of the Rooney Rule, which requires NFL teams to interview ethnic minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs, and its ongoing challenges for creating diversity within NFL leadership.
Despite progress in increasing the number of minority head coaches in sports, there are still significant barriers including in-group favoritism and bias. These issues have led to frustration and even lawsuits for African-American coaches seeking equal opportunities.
The NFL is an organization made up of private teams that answer to few outside parties, and are primarily owned by older white men. Meanwhile, the United States and its European allies have intensified preparations for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.