Tomlin Speaks Out On Minority Hirings At NFL Owners Meeting
Mar 28, 2022, 10:31 AM
Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field on October 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Mike Tomlin did not hire Brian Flores as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers out of sympathy for the former Miami Dolphins head coach.
Tomlin, who like Flores is African American, did so because Flores is “a good coach.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on addition of former Dolphins coach Brian Flores pic.twitter.com/SDGc1zRLwI
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 28, 2022
That Flores had sued the NFL and three teams — the Dolphins, Giants and Broncos — claiming racist hiring practices, did not dissuade the long-time Steelers coach in any way, Tomlin said Monday at the NFL owners meetings.
Mike Tomlin is blunt about league diversity efforts being successful. He has not been involved in the conversations and “I don’t have a level of confidence” that things will be better.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) March 28, 2022
A member of the league’s powerful competition committee and one of the most influential coaches in the sport, Tomlin spoke strongly about the lack of minority head coaches in the NFL.
