We’ve written extensively about Brian Flores, from his time as a head coach of the Dolphins and his wrongful dismissal to his lawsuit against the NFL, his time with the Steelers and his current role as Vikings defensive coordinator, and one theme has always remained consistent throughout.
Brian Flores was right and the NFL did him wrong.
And on Tuesday, that was cemented again.
A memo written by consulting firm Korn Ferry was unsealed and it validated why Flores first filed his lawsuit on February 1st, 2022 despite the harm it would have on his chances of becoming an NFL head coach again.
The memo, for the Las Vegas Raiders, assessed Flores’ strengths and weakness as a head coach but instead it became a document laced in racist undertones and condescending statements.
Flores was praised for his defensive coaching talents and ability to design schemes and blitzes that gave opponents fits.
But on the same page, they took aim at his upbringing in the heavily Black and Latino community of Brownsville, Brooklyn.
“Polished and a good presenter despite growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn (same as Mike Tyson). He was able to build a strong friendship with a billionaire’s son which gave him opportunities to socialize and learn how to build relationships with white-collar and upper-class individuals,” wrote Korn Ferry.
“Despite growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn” is a direct attack on his family, his community and his skin color, the obvious assumption being that those from the area are incapable of literacy or professionalism.
Flores attended the elite private school, Poly Prep, in Brooklyn, which is where he, and every other student there, met classmates from wealthy families.
He was raised by immigrant parents from Honduras of Garifuna heritage, and they didn’t play about education. He and three of his brothers are all college graduates and Flores, who played football at, and graduated from Boston College, also has his masters in administrative studies.
So while he was raised and educated by Brownsville, he earned his academic degrees from a great high school and college.
