Steve Wilks, Ray Horton join Brian Flores' suit alleging racist hiring practices in NFL

Wilks alleges he was discriminated against by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and Horton claims he was subjected to discriminatory treatment when he interviewed for the Tennessee Titans head coach position in January 2016.

Associated Press

Apr 7, 2022, 5:14 PM

Updated 841 days ago

Share:

Steve Wilks, Ray Horton join Brian Flores' suit alleging racist hiring practices in NFL
Two Black coaches joined Brian Flores on Thursday in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers.
The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton.
Wilks alleges he was discriminated against by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and Horton claims he was subjected to discriminatory treatment when he interviewed for the Tennessee Titans head coach position in January 2016.
The rewritten lawsuit from Flores also criticized the NFL for its response to the lawsuit he brought against it and its teams several weeks ago.
In a release from the lawsuit's attorneys, Wilks said he hoped the lawsuit would help bring racial equality to the league.
“When Coach Flores filed this action, I knew I owed it to myself, and to all Black NFL coaches and aspiring coaches, to stand with him,” he said. “This lawsuit has shed further important light on a problem that we all know exists, but that too few are willing to confront. Black coaches and candidates should have exactly the same ability to become employed, and remain employed, as white coaches and candidates.”
Horton said he was “devastated and humiliated” when he learned that his interview with the Titans was a sham.
“By joining this case, I am hoping to turn that experience into a positive and make lasting change and create true equal opportunity in the future,” he said.
Messages sent to the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans for comment were not immediately returned.
Flores sued the NFL and three teams on Feb. 1 after he was fired as the Miami Dolphins coach in January after leading the Dolphins to a 24-25 record over three years. They went 9-8 in their second straight winning season, but failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.
He has since been hired as an assistant coach by the Pittsburgh Steelers.


More from News 12
2:05
Zillow report: 28 LI communities have million-dollar starter homes

Zillow report: 28 LI communities have million-dollar starter homes

1:14
Wonderful weekend ahead with shower chances early next week

Wonderful weekend ahead with shower chances early next week

0:25
Police: 5 officers injured while arresting man in West Hempstead

Police: 5 officers injured while arresting man in West Hempstead

1:22
Justin Timberlake to be arraigned again for DWI next week

Justin Timberlake to be arraigned again for DWI next week

2:01
Bay Shore Christian School parents left without answers as school owners move to shut down programs

Bay Shore Christian School parents left without answers as school owners move to shut down programs

2:04
Another huge turnout at the Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove

Another huge turnout at the Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove

1:58
LI program gets kids & parents ready to start school

LI program gets kids & parents ready to start school

1:28
Local Summer Olympics watch party happening in Copiague

Local Summer Olympics watch party happening in Copiague

2:02
Brooklyn man facing assault charges, accused of driving into pedestrians outside Eastern Suffolk BOCES

Brooklyn man facing assault charges, accused of driving into pedestrians outside Eastern Suffolk BOCES

0:18
Sen. Schumer announces $24 million in federal funding to revitalize downtown Riverhead

Sen. Schumer announces $24 million in federal funding to revitalize downtown Riverhead

0:36
Ceremony honors 24 students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine

Ceremony honors 24 students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine

1:44
The Real Deal: How to save on expenses amid rising costs in New York

The Real Deal: How to save on expenses amid rising costs in New York

0:33
State report: Long Island has lowest percentage of bridges in poor condition

State report: Long Island has lowest percentage of bridges in poor condition

1:40
Food Truck Friday: The Cone Depot

Food Truck Friday: The Cone Depot

0:20
Suffolk police officers help woman deliver baby in Amityville

Suffolk police officers help woman deliver baby in Amityville

3:44
Deer Park teen blacklisted by bank after falling for a fake check scam

Deer Park teen blacklisted by bank after falling for a fake check scam

1:18
Farm owner: 2 goats, 3 sheep dead after toxic bushes were thrown into pen on East End

Farm owner: 2 goats, 3 sheep dead after toxic bushes were thrown into pen on East End

1:59
Police: Scammers falsely reporting damage on people's properties before damaging it further

Police: Scammers falsely reporting damage on people's properties before damaging it further

1:46
'It’s just treacherous.' Calls for change grow along busy Nassau road amid multiple crashes

'It’s just treacherous.' Calls for change grow along busy Nassau road amid multiple crashes

1:41
Teens learn skills needed to become firefighters at Camp Fahrenheit 516

Teens learn skills needed to become firefighters at Camp Fahrenheit 516