Earlier this week, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, specifically accusing the New York Giants of racial discrimination during their hiring process.
This lawsuit had layers, however, as it also included an anecdote about the Denver Broncos over an interview that Flores had in 2019 during their head coach search.
Flores claimed that then-General Manager John Elway and Chief Executive Officer Joe Ellis, among others, showed up an hour late to the interview. The lawsuit also claimed that they looked “disheveled” and that it was clear that they had been drinking the night before.
Flores finally added that he believed it was clear that Elway and the Broncos only brought him in due to the Rooney Rule, and that the Broncos had no desire to actually consider him for the job.
John Elway has since responded to the allegations from Flores on Thursday, firmly denying the accusations.
John Elway’s statement on Brian Flores’ lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/umCOkYfq2V
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) February 3, 2022
“While I was not planning to respond publicly to the false and defamatory claims from Brian Flores, I could not be silent any longer with my character, integrity, and professionalism being attacked,” said Elway in the statement.
“I took Coach Flores very seriously as a candidate for our head coaching position in 2019 and enjoyed our three-and-a-half-hour interview with him. Along with the rest of our group, I was prepared, ready, and fully engaged during the entire interview as Brian shared his experience and vision for our team.
“It’s unfortunate and shocking to learn for the first time this week that Brian felt differently about our interview with him.
“For Brian to make an assumption about my appearance and state of mind early that morning was subjective, hurtful, and just plain wrong. If I appeared “disheveled,” as he claimed, it was because we had flown in during the middle of the night-immediately following another interview in Denver-and were going on a few hours of sleep to meet the only window provided to us.
“I interviewed Brian in good faith, giving him the same consideration and opportunity as every other candidate for our head coaching position in 2019.”
It’s obviously unclear where the truth actually lies in what happened that day. If the Broncos had any intention of hiring Flores in that interview, it fits with the theme of the rest of the lawsuit. Flores’ lawsuit goes far beyond just this interview, it is an issue with the way of thinking for all NFL owners, and it certainly seems unlikely that Flores would include this particular interview if he didn’t feel there was at least some truth to his allegations.
