When Flores first filed the suit, the league said: “The NFL and our clubs are deeply committed to ensuring equitable employment practices and continue to make progress in providing equitable opportunities throughout our organizations.
Wilks claims he was “unfairly and discriminatorily fired” by the Cardinals after he served as the team’s head coach for the 2018 season, according to the court document.
“When Coach Flores filed this action, I knew I owed it to myself, and to all Black NFL coaches and aspiring coaches, to stand with him,” Wilks said in a statement through his attorneys Thursday.
“But as we said at the time, they were entirely driven by what was in the best interests of our organization and necessary for team improvement.
The NFL instituted the Rooney Rule in 2003 in an effort to increase diversity among the NFL’s head coaching, general manager and executive ranks.
“I am proud to stand with Coach Flores and Coach Wilks in combatting the systemic discrimination which has plagued the NFL for far too long,” Horton said in a statement through his attorneys on Thursday.
“It’s a very cutthroat business, and a lot of guys will tell you that.
In the new court document, Flores expanded on claims that the Dolphins and Texans took “retaliatory” actions against him.
“Due to his previous success as a coach in the NFL, Brian Flores was among the first candidates we held a formal interview with for the position and he remained a candidate until the very end.
In February, Flores was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an assistant coach to Mike Tomlin, one of the few Black head coaches in the NFL.
