Brian Flores is back in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed the former Miami Dolphins head coach on Saturday as a senior defensive assistant. Flores will specialize in linebackers, a group that includes NFL Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt.
Posted at 2:22 p.m.
The hiring comes less than three weeks after Flores, who is black, sued the NFL and three teams for alleged racist hiring practices after he was fired by Miami. Flores led the Dolphins to consecutive winning seasons before being fired in January.
Flores maintained that he would not drop his pursuit even if he found another coaching job. He joins a restructured defensive squad in Pittsburgh following the retirement of longtime coordinator Keith Butler. Teryl Austin was promoted to take Butler’s place earlier this month.
“I am very excited to have Brian Flores join our coaching staff, given his experience developing and teaching defensive players during his NFL career,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. of the Steelers, in a press release. Brian’s resume speaks for itself and I look forward to him bringing his expertise to help our team. »
Tomlin is the NFL’s longest-serving black head coach and one of three black men to coach teams last season. The other two, Flores and David Culley of Houston, were fired. Houston then signed Lovie Smith, who is black, and Miami signed Mike McDaniel, who is biracial.