Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL for its hiring practices, using an unprofessional interview he experienced with the Denver Broncos towards his case.
Sportico sports business reporter Eben Novy-Williams tweeted portions of the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon that highlight the situation.
Wow. Flores also accuses @Broncos brass, included Joe Ellis and John Elway, of showing up hung over to another interview in 2019, which he also says was held just so the team could "satisfy" the Rooney Rule. https://t.co/uv3F87SFCz pic.twitter.com/oFZ1FAwjRS
— Eben Novy-Williams (@novy_williams) February 1, 2022
The lawsuit states that Flores had an interview to fill the head coach vacancy in Denver in 2019. Former Broncos GM John Elway, President and Chief Executive Officer John Ellis, and other members of the Broncos franchise showed up to the meeting an hour late, according to the lawsuit.
“They looked completely disheveled, and it was obvious that they had drinking heavily the night before,” the lawsuit states, accusing the front office members of being hungover during the interview.
It goes on to claim that “from the substance of the interview,” it was clear that they only interviewed Flores for the job to meet the Rooney Rule.
According to NFL Communications, the rule is an “NFL policy requiring every team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one or more diverse candidates.” It was originally adopted in 2003, but “expanded to include general manager jobs and equivalent front office positions” in 2009.
After accusing the Broncos of a “sham interview,” the lawsuit goes on to point out that Vic Fangio, a white man, was hired for the head coaching position “shortly thereafter.”
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