Supreme Court declines NFL's appeal in Brian Flores' discrimination lawsuit

On May 26, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the NFL regarding coach Brian Flores' racial discrimination lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed in federal court rather than through arbitration. The court's decision followed a lower court ruling that permitted Flores' claims to be heard in open court. Flores filed the lawsuit in early 2022 against the NFL and three teams—Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos—alleging systemic racial discrimination in hiring practices. He was joined by coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton in the suit. Flores claimed that he faced discrimination based on race and was denied coaching positions. The NFL sought to compel arbitration based on employment contracts, but Flores opposed this, arguing that Commissioner Roger Goodell's role as arbitrator presented a conflict of interest. A federal judge and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit supported Flores' position, stating that the arbitration provision in the NFL Constitution was not enforceable under federal law. The NFL's lawyers described the Second Circuit's ruling as unprecedented, while Flores' legal team argued that it aligns with other circuit court decisions regarding workplace discrimination claims.