Former Mizzou coordinator Steve Wilks joins Brian Flores’ NFL discrimination lawsuit
Former Missouri defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has joined Brian Flores’ class-action lawsuit against the NFL and its teams, accusing them of racial discrimination in hiring and retaining coaches.
Wilks was fired from his job as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals after one season. The Cardinals went 3-13 in 2018. He was replaced by Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, who had no NFL coaching experience.
The amended lawsuit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and also includes Ray Horton. The suit says in 2016, Horton was given a “sham interview” for the Tennessee Titans head coaching job.
Flores’ original suit was filed in February soon after he was fired as the Miami Dolphins coach after posting winning records in two of his three seasons. The NFL has denied the allegations.
Wilks issued a statement released by his lawyers explaining why he joined the suit with Flores.
“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,” Wilks 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. That is not currently the case, and I look forward to working with Coach Flores and Coach Horton to ensure that the aspiration of racial equality in the NFL becomes a reality.”
The suit alleges Wilks was a “bridge coach ... not given a meaningful opportunity to succeed.”
Wilks spent the 2019 season as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator and was hired by Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz last year. Wilks returned to the NFL after the Tigers’ 6-7 season and is now the Carolina Panthers defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach.