It was winter of 2022 when the news broke of the Pittsburgh Steelers hiring Brian Flores as an defensive assistant, and their linebackers coach. To say it was big news was an understatement, this after Flores was fired from his head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins and litigation against the NFL was officially filed.
Nonetheless, as Mike Tomlin spoke glowingly about Flores both before, during and after the 2022 season, most fans knew in the back of their minds was the fact the only way Flores wouldn’t be considered for other coaching opportunities after the season was if he was genuinely “black balled” by the owners for his lawsuit against the league.