A recruiting memo evaluating Brian Flores for the Las Vegas Raiders was unsealed Tuesday, October 13, and his lawyers say its language supports his allegations of racial discrimination in NFL hiring.
Front Office Sports reported that Korn Ferry prepared the one-page assessment during a recent Raiders coaching search. The document lists six favorable points and seven unfavorable ones about Flores.
One favorable entry describes him as polished despite his upbringing in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and credits a relationship with a billionaire’s son for helping him navigate wealthy professional circles. Flores’ attorney Michael Willemin told FOS that the language treats a Black candidate’s ability to present himself well as surprising.
His lawyers also argue that an entry identifying the lawsuit as a potential distraction shows retaliation. Those are the plaintiffs’ allegations, rather than a court finding that the memo establishes discrimination.
Korn Ferry had sought to keep the document sealed, arguing that it was privileged work product and did not support Flores’ interpretation. The magistrate judge rejected its arguments. Flores filed the lawsuit in February 2022; it remains pending.
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