A recruiting assessment prepared by executive search firm Korn Ferry for the Raiders' 2024 head-coach search was unsealed and obtained by the Associated Press on Tuesday, and Brian Flores' lawyers say it contains multiple examples of racial stereotypes and unlawful retaliation.
The report, which lists six strengths and seven weaknesses for Flores, was reviewed by the coach's legal team who contend the language and judgments within it reflect racialized assumptions about his personality and candidacy. Flores sued the National Football League in 2022, alleging discriminatory hiring practices, and his attorneys argue the assessment is part of a pattern of adverse treatment linked to that litigation.
Flores' lawyers say the contents of the Korn Ferry document demonstrate the league's continued reliance on stereotypes in evaluating minority candidates and that the timing and tenor of the report amount to retaliatory conduct. The unsealed document was made public this week and has become a focal point in the broader dispute over hiring practices and fairness in NFL coaching searches.
The release of the report adds to ongoing scrutiny of how teams and third-party evaluators assess candidates for coaching positions and comes amid continued legal and public debate over diversity and equal opportunity in the league. Flores' lawsuit, and reactions to the newly released assessment, are likely to shape discussions about hiring procedures and the use of external consultants in future searches.