NEW YORK — Two black coaches joined Brian Flores Thursday in his lawsuit alleging racist NFL hiring practices toward coaches and general managers.
The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton.
Wilks alleges he was discriminated against by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and Horton claims he faced discriminatory treatment during his interview for the Tennessee Titans head coach position in January 2016.
Flores’ rewritten lawsuit also criticized the NFL for its response to the lawsuit he filed against her and her teams several weeks ago.
In a statement from trial attorneys, Wilks said he hopes the trial will help bring racial equality to the league.
“When Coach Flores filed this lawsuit, I knew I owed myself and all black coaches and aspiring black coaches in the NFL to stand by him,” he said. “This lawsuit has shed important new light on a problem that we all know exists, but too few are prepared to confront. Black coaches and candidates should have exactly the same ability to become employed and to remain employed as black coaches and candidates. white coaches and candidates.
Horton said he was “devastated and humbled” when he learned his Titans interview was a sham.
“By joining this business, I hope to turn this experience into positive and lasting change and create true equal opportunity in the future,” he said.
The NFL declined to comment Thursday. Messages sent to the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans for comment were not immediately returned.
Flores sued the NFL and three teams on Feb. 1 after being fired as Miami Dolphins coach in January after leading the Dolphins to a 24-25 record in three years. They went 9-8 in their second straight season, but failed to qualify for the playoffs during his tenure.
He has since been hired as an assistant coach by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this story.
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