Alright, so the document the NFL and search firm Korn Ferry *really* didn’t want anyone to see? Yeah, that thing just got blown wide open. It dropped as an attachment to a supplemental complaint Brian Flores filed against the Miami Dolphins, part of his lawsuit that kicked off way back in February 2022.
The Ugly Truth About Flores’ “Weaknesses”
This isn’t some minor footnote, either. The document is an exhibit to that complaint, and it’s a summary of Flores’s “strengths and weaknesses” put together by Korn Ferry. And lemme tell ya, the “weaknesses” section is a gut punch. One of the bullet points is just brutal: “Needs someone strong at the top to reign in some of his worst behavior. He once threatened violence to his GM and made irrational demands during an ownership meeting.” Seriously? Threatening violence to a GM? That’s not just a red flag, that’s like a whole parade of red flags.
Then there are these quotes that make you wonder what was really going on behind the scenes. One long-time senior team executive reportedly said, “He may have changed since, but he was the worst hiring decision we’ve ever made.” And another club President straight-up “refused to talk about him.” When execs are saying stuff like that, you know it’s heavy. This isn’t just about football, it’s about the kind of environment these coaches create.
The Raiders and That “Distraction” Warning
On top of the behavior stuff, another bullet point in the weaknesses category pointed right at the elephant in the room: “Ongoing litigation may be a distraction.” Which, I mean, yeah, you’d think so, right? This whole legal battle has been hanging over things for a while now.
And here’s where it gets even more complicated: The Las Vegas Raiders were apparently given this exact assessment from Korn Ferry. And what happened? The Raiders, who had Korn Ferry consulting on their head-coaching vacancy, didn’t even interview Flores. You gotta wonder how much this document played into that decision. It paints a pretty clear picture of the perception Flores was up against, even if he feels it’s unfair or inaccurate.
This document going public? It changes the whole dynamic of this lawsuit. What does it mean for Flores’s claims? What about Korn Ferry’s role in NFL hiring? This isn’t going to just fade away. We’re talking about serious allegations and potentially massive implications for how coaching searches are handled across the league going forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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