It was starting to look like former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores wasn't going to find another coaching job in the NFL amid his ongoing lawsuit against the league. However, Flores ended up joining Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's defensive staff as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach. In an interview with Bryant Gumbel set to air on HBO on Tuesday, Flores revealed the role that Tomlin played in his hire with Pittsburgh, as reported by Steelers Wire of USA Today.

BRIAN FLORES: Yeah. All afterwards. I actually was, you know, callin’ Coach– Coach T. really to get some counsel. I was thinkin’ about, the next steps for me just from a coaching standpoint. And then that conversation turned into an opportunity there in Pittsburgh.

BRYANT GUMBEL: Do you think Coach Tomlin threw you a lifeline?

BRIAN FLORES: I’m a very– capable coach in this league. But I do feel like he saw a situation where there was– a very– experienced coach– who could help his staff, who was also a Black coach in the league. And I think– I think that– that kind speaks to what we’re talkin’ about.

Brian Flores revealed that he spoke to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to get some advice on his next steps. Flores said that a conversation that was merely one head coach giving advice to another turned into a job opportunity for him.

When asked if he thought Tomlin “threw him a lifeline” in regard to his lawsuit, Flores pushed back a bit, noting that he feels he's a capable coach in the NFL, but that he feels that the Steelers head coach saw an opportunity to add not only an experienced coach to his staff, but also a Black coach.

It's an interesting look into the role that Tomlin played in bringing Flores aboard.