By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) – Brian Flores, the Miami Dolphins’ head coach and former player, filed a suit Tuesday against the National Football League and 32 of its teams alleging that they discriminated against Black applicants for management and coaching positions.

Flores, in a federal class-action complaint filed in Manhattan, claimed that Flores’ firing last month by the Dolphins after two consecutive winning seasons was emblematic of how the Dolphins have treated Black coaches. This is despite the fact that 70% of NFL player are Black.

This lawsuit is designed to force the NFL into making a number of significant changes. It will encourage teams to hire Black general managers and coaches, as well as require that teams explain their hiring decisions and terminated employees in writing.

The NFL stated in a response to the suit that it did not believe the claims had merit. The NFL stated that it and its clubs are committed to fair employment practices.

According to the statement, diversity is at the heart of everything we do. There are very few areas on which both our clubs and our inner leadership team have more time.

Flores won 24 games in three seasons playing for the Dolphins. In the suit, Flores claimed that the NFL failed to recognize decades of discrimination against African Americans.

He said teams have conducted “sham interviews” with Black candidates to satisfy a 2003 NFL policy known as the Rooney Rule requiring that minorities be interviewed for coaching jobs.

Flores claimed that the New York Giants interviewed Flores last week for a position as head coach. But, they had decided to hire Brian Daboll (a white coach). A request for comment was not received by the team immediately.

Flores stated that Black coaches get paid less when they’re hired than white ones and are also more likely to lose their jobs due to disagreements with the team owners.

This lawsuit charges the NFL, its players and teams with violating laws in both federal and state that prevent discrimination at work.

Flores, in a statement from his attorneys acknowledged that the suit could affect his chances of landing another job as a coach in the NFL.

His sincere hope was that other NFL players will take a stand against racism and ensure positive change for the future.

Stephen Ross, Dolphins owner, stated that Flores’ firing was for his best interests. “After reviewing where we stand as an organisation and what I need to do to make it better, I found that the key dynamics in our football organization were not functioning at the level that I desire. I felt this was the right decision.

“I think we have a young and talented roster. We have the chance to improve in 2022.” Brian’s hard work is greatly appreciated and I wish him all the best for the future.