A previously sealed candidate assessment of Brian Flores prepared by executive search firm Korn Ferry for the Las Vegas Raiders relies on racial stereotypes, attorneys representing the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator said Tuesday.
The one-page evaluation became public Tuesday after a federal court ordered it unsealed as part of Flores’ ongoing racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL and multiple franchises, ESPN and Front Office Sports reported. The memo, assembled during a past head coaching search by the Raiders, categorized observations under columns listing strengths and weaknesses.
Contested descriptions in recruitment file
In the strengths section, the Korn Ferry document praised Flores as “polished and a good presenter despite growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn (same as Mike Tyson).” The report added that he “was able to build a strong friendship with a billionaire’s son, which gave him opportunities to socialize and learn how to build relationships with white-collar and upper-class individuals.”
Flores’ legal team sharply criticized the characterization. Douglas H. Wigdor, an attorney representing Flores, told Front Office Sports that the document shows discrimination persists in executive coaching evaluations and claimed the passage implied a Black candidate from Brownsville could only succeed through ties to wealth. Michael Willemin, another attorney for Flores, told the outlet that Brownsville has an 81 percent Black and Hispanic population.
Willemin said the remark was a “racially offensive way in which someone might comment upon a Black man being articulate, as though it is surprising for a Black man to be articulate (or, in this case, polished).”
The evaluation also turned that description against Flores in the negative column, stating that “he can fool you with his polish upwards.” The report asserted that Flores possessed poor interpersonal skills, showed erratic conduct, and carried a “chip on his shoulder.” It also claimed he “can be a dictator with players, coaches, and can even be difficult with ownership” and alleged that he once threatened violence toward a general manager.
Retaliation claims and legal background
The memo referenced past public criticism from Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whom Flores coached from 2020 to 2021. In August 2024, Flores stated that he wished Tagovailoa well and had spent time reflecting on his communication methods, ESPN reported.
Flores’ attorneys also pointed to an entry in the weaknesses column noting that his ongoing legal action could be a distraction. Willemin and Wigdor argued that listing the lawsuit in the negative section provided clear evidence of leaguewide retaliation for challenging NFL hiring practices.
Korn Ferry disputed the interpretation of the memo offered by Flores’ legal team, Pro Football Network reported.
Flores initially filed his class-action lawsuit in February 2022 after being fired by the Dolphins, alleging systemic racism across the league’s hiring processes for head coaches, coordinators, and general managers. The lawsuit also named the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans, accusing clubs of conducting sham interviews to comply with the league’s Rooney Rule requirements. Fellow Black coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton later joined the litigation.
Since leaving Miami, Flores served with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining Minnesota as defensive coordinator in 2023. Under Flores, the Vikings finished third in fewest yards allowed per game last season and entered their bye week this season with a 5-0 record. The legal proceedings in federal court remain ongoing, with no trial date yet announced.
