Brian Flores' Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against NFL Allowed to Proceed to Trial

U.S. District Court rules Flores can take his case to open court, rejecting NFL's bid for arbitration

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A U.S. District Court has ruled that former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores' class-action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in the NFL's hiring practices can proceed to trial, rejecting the league's attempt to resolve the matter through private arbitration overseen by Commissioner Roger Goodell. The ruling upholds previous decisions stating Flores and other plaintiffs, including ex-Cardinals coach Steve Wilks and assistant Ray Horton, have the right to take their claims to open court.

Why it matters

The court's decision is seen as a significant victory for Flores and other NFL employees, as it denies the league the ability to handle the discrimination allegations through a process critics have long argued is fundamentally biased in the NFL's favor. The ruling is viewed as an important step toward greater transparency and accountability around the league's hiring practices.

The details

Flores' lawsuit alleges racial discrimination in the NFL's head coaching hiring process, claiming the Giants and Broncos only interviewed him to comply with the Rooney Rule requiring teams to consider minority candidates, while not viewing him as a legitimate contender. The suit also includes claims from Wilks, who was fired after one season as Cardinals head coach, and Horton, who alleges the Titans had already decided to hire Mike Mularkey when they interviewed him for their head coaching job in 2016.

  • On February 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Flores' lawsuit can proceed to trial, rejecting the NFL's bid for private arbitration.

The players

Brian Flores

Former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, who filed a class-action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in the NFL's hiring practices.

Steve Wilks

Former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who joined Flores' lawsuit with claims against the Cardinals.

Ray Horton

Longtime NFL assistant coach, who joined Flores' lawsuit with claims against the Tennessee Titans.

Roger Goodell

Commissioner of the National Football League, who would have overseen the arbitration process the NFL sought for Flores' lawsuit.

Douglas H. Wigdor

Attorney representing Flores, Wilks, and Horton in the lawsuit against the NFL.

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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 Flores, Wilks, and Horton (Yahoo Sports)

“The significance of the Second Circuit's decision cannot be overstated. For too long, the NFL has relied on a fundamentally biased and unfair arbitration process—even in cases involving serious claims of discrimination. This ruling sends a clear message: that practice must end. This is a victory not only for NFL employees, but for workers across the country—and for anyone who believes in transparency, accountability and justice.”

— David E. Gottlieb, Attorney for Flores, Wilks, and Horton (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The case will now proceed to trial, where Flores, Wilks, and Horton will have the opportunity to present their evidence of racial discrimination in the NFL's hiring practices.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant win for Flores and other NFL employees seeking greater transparency and accountability around the league's hiring decisions. It denies the NFL the ability to handle these serious discrimination allegations through a private arbitration process widely criticized as biased, and instead forces the league to address the claims in open court.