By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired Brian Flores, who is suing the NFL over alleged racist hiring practices, as a defensive assistant, the team announced Saturday.
Flores, 40, who was fired by the Miami Dolphins in January after three seasons with the team, filed a class-action suit against the National Football League and three of its teams on Feb. 1, citing discriminatory hiring practices.
Flores, who is Black, joins the staff of coach Mike Tomlin, who was left as the NFL’s only Black head coach after the Dolphins announced Flores’ dismissal. Houston has since hired Lovie Smith, who is Black; Miami hired Mike McDaniel, who is biracial, to replace Flores.
“I am excited about Brian Flores joining our coaching staff given his history of developing and teaching defensive players during his time in the NFL,” Tomlin said in a statement. “Brian’s resume speaks for itself, and I look forward to him adding his expertise to help our team.”
Flores’ 58-page lawsuit, filed in a Manhattan federal court, seeks class-action status and unspecified damages from the league, the Dolphins, the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants, along with unidentified individuals, ESPN reported.
According to the sports news network, Flores said the current NFL culture was racially segregated, comparing the league’s management style to that of a plantation.
The Dolphins, Broncos and Giants have denied the allegations.
Flores led the Dolphins to a 24-25 record and failed to make the playoffs during his three-year tenure. He went 9-8 in Miami during the 2021 season after a 1-7 start.
Specifically, Flores’ lawsuit alleged that he and other Black NFL coaches have been routinely denied positions as head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators, quarterbacks coaches and general managers, ESPN reported.
“(The NFL’s) 32 owners -- none of whom are Black -- profit substantially from the labor of NFL players, 70% of whom are Black. The owners watch the games from atop NFL stadiums in their luxury boxes, while their majority-Black workforce put their bodies on the line every Sunday, taking vicious hits and suffering debilitating injuries to their bodies and their brains while the NFL and its owners reap billions of dollars,” the lawsuit stated.
Flores played at Boston College before moving into personnel roles with the New England Patriots for four years, the Steelers said. He then went on to coach various positions for New England over 11 seasons.
Flores has said his lawsuit would continue even if he found another coaching job, according to The Associated Press.
Brian Flores Brian Flores Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins speaks to the press during a practice and media availability by the Miami Dolphins In Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The Dolphins play the Jaguars in a regular season NFL game on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspurs White Hart Lane stadium in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant/AP)
Brian Flores This is a photo of Brian Flores of the New England Patriots NFL football team. This image reflects the New England Patriots active roster as of Thursday, June 20, 2013. (AP Photo) (AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores follows a play, during the second half at an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) (Brynn Anderson/AP)
Brian Flores Head coach Brian Flores (Miami Dolphins) watches the National team practice for the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza) (Rusty Costanza/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores looks on against the New York Jets during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, right, chats with Dolphins former head coach Jimmy Johnson before the start of an NFL football preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores talks with the news media during NFL football training camp, Friday, July 26, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores looks up at the scoreboard, during the first half at an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Brian Flores FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores watches his team warm up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, in Foxborough, Mass. The Dolphins have begun their search for a coach who’s ready to lose a lot this year. Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores, the first candidate to interview for the Dolphins’ job, met with them Friday, Jan. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches the game from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (Michael Conroy/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa prepares to throw a pass as coach Brian Flores watches during an NFL football training camp Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) (Marta Lavandier/AP)
Brian Flores The new Miami Dolphin's head coach Brian Flores gestures to his children, Maxwell, right and Miles, left, to sit down before he speaks during a news conference on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, in Davie, Fla. Hours after his team won the Super Bowl, New England Patriots linebackers coach Flores has been hired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. They decided on Jan. 11. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) (Brynn Anderson/AP)
Brian Flores FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, center, speaks with linebackers coach Brian Flores, left, and defensive line coach Brendan Daly during an NFL football team practice, in Foxborough, Mass. Flores is now the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins hired Flores even though the Patriots’ Way hasn’t worked elsewhere. While Belichick owns a record six Super Bowl championship rings, his former New England assistants have combined for one playoff victory as head coaches. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne/AP)
Brian Flores FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2020, file photo, Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches practice at the NFL football team's training facility in Davie, Fla. Flores says the team’s new video addressing racial injustice was player-driven, had the team owner’s support and sought to send a message that “we can all do better.” (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) (Lynne Sladky/AP)
Brian Flores FILE -Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores talks to Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross during practice before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Fired Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores sued the NFL and three of its teams Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 saying racist hiring practices by the league have left it racially segregated and managed like a plantation.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, left, shakes hands with Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn, right, after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores embraces Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, at the end of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Brian Flores The new Miami Dolphin's head coach Brian Flores, left, poses for a portrait with his family, wife, Jennifer, daughter Liliana, son Miles, center, and son Maxwell, left, before he speaks during a news conference on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, in Davie, Fla. Hours after his team won the Super Bowl, New England Patriots linebackers coach Flores has been hired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) (Brynn Anderson/AP)
Brian Flores New England Patriots defensive assistant coach Brian Flores goes over a play during NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass. Monday, Aug, 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (Elise Amendola/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Brian Flores Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches as players run drills at the team's NFL football training facility, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky/AP)
Brian Flores Brian Flores Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins walks amongst his players during a practice and media availability by the Miami Dolphins In Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The Dolphins play the Jaguars in a regular season NFL game on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspurs White Hart Lane stadium in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant/AP)