The Houston Texans are off this week. However, they have some off-field matters that require their attention. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ latest legal victory has significant implications for the Texans.
Flores sued the Texans along with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and the NFL.
He accused them of racial discrimination. It is the latest victory for Flores in his legal battle.
Vikings DC Wins Key Legal Battle Against Texans, 3 Other NFL Teams
GettyMinnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores reacts against the Chicago Bears.
Front Office Sports’ Margaret Fleming detailed how “the NFL lost again” in court against Flores and his discrimination case. Flores added the Texans to the lawsuit after its initial filing.
“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit denied a request by the NFL and its teams for a full court review of an August decision that sided with Flores and said that his claims against three teams must be heard in open court. A three-judge panel had ruled in August that Flores’s claims against the Giants, Broncos, and Texans cannot be forced into NFL-controlled arbitration, but his case against the Dolphins can,” Fleming wrote on October 7.
“The league has lost several high-profile legal disputes over arbitration recently, including in its fight against former coach Jon Gruden, who has also fought for several years to keep his case out of arbitration.”
Flores’ initial claims levied allegations against the Broncos, Dolphins, Giants, and NFL for “racial discrimination.” Flores said the incidents occurred during the “league’s interview and hiring processes as well as during his tenure as head coach in Miami,” Fleming explained
“Shortly after the initial filing, the Texans were added as defendants, and former coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton joined as plaintiffs. (Wilks is now defensive coordinator for the Jets.) The league denied some of Flores’s claims at the time, but investigated others. The NFL ultimately found Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and vice chairman Bruce Beal had violated the league’s anti-tampering policy with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, fined them, and took away draft picks.”
The Texans’ involvement came during the 2022 hiring cycle.
Brian Flores Initially Filed Lawsuit in 2022
GettyMinnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores takes the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers.
News of Flores’ initial filing broke in February 2022. The Texans were added as a co-defendant shortly after, and the Vikings’ DC began getting small victories in his larger battle.
“Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores said he’s ‘happy’ that the Houston Texans have hired a Black head coach but believes he was passed over for the job because of his recent federal lawsuit against the NFL alleging racial discrimination,” Elisha Fieldstadt wrote for NBC Sports in February 2022. “The Texans announced Monday that they had hired Lovie Smith, who just completed his first season as the Texans’ defensive coordinator.”
Smith lasted one season as the Texans’ head coach before he was fired.
He was the second head coach and second minority HC that the Texans parted ways with after one season. The Texans did the same with his immediate predecessor and former boss, David Culley. Smith has not coached since.
Flores spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers after his alleged snub by the Texans. He was their linebackers coach and a defensive consultant. He joined the Vikings in 2023.
The Texans hired DeMeco Ryans after firing Smith and have had back-to-back playoff berths.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Texans Get Bad News as Rival Scores Key Victory in Ongoing Battle appeared first on Heavy Sports.