Judge Rules Brian Flores' NFL Discrimination Lawsuit Can Proceed to Court

Flores' lawsuit alleges the league's hiring practices are "rife with racism" towards Black coaches

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal judge ruled that Brian Flores' discrimination lawsuit against the NFL can move forward in open court, rather than being forced into the league's private arbitration process. Flores, who is now the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, filed the lawsuit in 2022 alleging racial discrimination in the league's hiring practices for Black coaches.

Why it matters

The ruling is a significant victory for Flores and the other plaintiffs, as it allows the case to be heard publicly in court rather than behind closed doors in the NFL's own arbitration system. This could shed more light on the league's hiring practices and lead to greater transparency and accountability.

The details

Flores, along with co-plaintiffs Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, sued the NFL and three teams - the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans - alleging racial discrimination in their hiring and firing decisions. The NFL had argued the case should go through its own arbitration process, but the judge sided with the plaintiffs, stating that "an arbitration forum in which the defendant's own chief executive gets to decide the case would strip employees of their rights under the law."

  • Flores filed the lawsuit in February 2022, shortly after being fired by the Miami Dolphins.
  • The judge's ruling was issued on February 14, 2026.
  • A pretrial hearing has been set for April 3, 2026.

The players

Brian Flores

The Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator who filed the discrimination lawsuit against the NFL and several teams.

Steve Wilks

A co-plaintiff in the lawsuit who was fired as the New York Jets defensive coordinator in December.

Ray Horton

A co-plaintiff in the lawsuit who last coached in the NFL in 2019 and alleged he was not given a genuine interview for a head coaching position with the Tennessee Titans in 2016.

Valerie Caproni

The federal judge who ruled that Flores' lawsuit can proceed to open court rather than being forced into the NFL's arbitration process.

Douglas H. Wigdor

One of the attorneys representing Flores and the other plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The court's decision recognizes that an arbitration forum in which the defendant's own chief executive gets to decide the case would strip employees of their rights under the law. It is long overdue for the NFL to recognize this and finally provide a fair, neutral and transparent forum for these issues to be addressed.”

— Douglas H. Wigdor, Attorney for the plaintiffs

What’s next

A pretrial hearing in the case has been scheduled for April 3, 2026, where the judge and attorneys will discuss next steps in the legal proceedings.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant victory for Flores and the other plaintiffs, as it allows their discrimination allegations against the NFL to be heard in open court rather than being forced into the league's private arbitration system. The case could shed light on the league's hiring practices and lead to greater transparency and accountability around diversity and inclusion efforts.