Brian Flores’ lawsuit against NFL, Giants reveals awkward text messages with Bill Belichick

Brian Flores has receipts.

The former Dolphins head coach has filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, the Giants, and the rest of the league’s teams, accusing them of racial discrimination. In the Giants’ case specifically, Flores alleges he was a token interview to satisfy the Rooney Rule instead of a legitimate candidate for the team’s now-filled head coach position.

The Giants decided to hire Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, but that decision came well before Flores interviewed for the job, according to Flores and the lawsuit.

Text messages included in the lawsuit between Flores and Bill Belichick — who seemingly confused the two Brians — show the Patriots head coach congratulating Flores for landing the Giants head coaching job when he apparently thought he was texting Daboll about the position. 

Here’s the real headline: Flores knows this because Bill Belichick mistakenly congratulated him, not Brian Daboll, three days before the interview. (images from the complaint) pic.twitter.com/sUWjXYWARn

— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) February 1, 2022

The full transcript of the text messages:

Bill Belichick (BB): Sounds like you have landed — congrats!!

Brian Flores (BF): Did you hear something I didn’t hear?

BB: Giants?!?!?!?!?!

BF: I interview on Thursday. I think I have a shot at it

BB: Got it – I hear from Buffalo & NYG that you are their guy. Hope it works out if you want it to!!

BF: That’s definitely what I want! I hope you’re right coach. Thank you. Coach, are you talking to Brian Flores or Brian Daboll. Just making sure. 

BB: Sorry – I f—ed this up. I double checked & I misread the text. I think they are naming Daboll. I’m sorry about that. BB

BF: Thanks Bill

The Giants, who hired former Bills front office executive Joe Schoen as their new general manager, officially named Daboll their coach this week. They also interviewed Flores and Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who is Black, for their head coaching vacancy.

The team released a statement Tuesday defending its interview process. 

“We are pleased and confident with the process that resulted in the hiring of Brian Daboll,” the statement read. “We interviewed and impressive and diverse group of candidates. The fact of the matter is, Brian Flores was in the conversation to be our head coach until the eleventh hour. Ultimately, we hired the individual we felt was most qualified to be our next head coach.”

The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday in federal court, paints a damning picture of the Dolphins organization, owner Stephen Ross, and the interview experiences Flores had with the Giants and the Broncos.  

Flores is coming off a 9-8 season with the Dolphins and was surprisingly fired in early January.