Is Brian Flores the de facto DC?

[Steel Maniac]

Good young defensive mind ... regardless of just why Tomlin brought him in, Flores will be a good addition to our coaching staff.

Yep … I see no downside.

[hawaiiansteel]

Mike Tomlin, convinced that 'you can use a Brian Flores on your staff,' enthused to add Pittsburgh Steelers' new assistant coach

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL and three teams alleging racial discrimination in their hiring practices, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin felt it was his duty to stay close to the former Miami Dolphins coach.

"I just didn't want him to feel like he was on an island," Tomlin told reporters Sunday from league meetings. "From a coaching fraternity standpoint I owed him that. I was in position to provide that. I think that started our interactions and conversations."

In quick succession, phone calls of advice morphed into a job offer, and Flores joined Tomlin's staff Feb. 19 as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach.

"Over the course of those discussions, particularly when it became evident he was not going to get a head job, then I think the natural discussion began," Tomlin said. "It really ran its course rather quickly, to be quite honest with you. Because it doesn't require a lot of time to come to the realization that you can use a Brian Flores on your staff."

Flores told HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" he talked to Tomlin on Thursday, Feb. 17, and accepted the job that Friday evening.

"I actually was calling Coach T. to really to get some counsel," Flores told Gumbel. "I was thinking about the next steps for me just from a coaching standpoint. And then that conversation turned into an opportunity there in Pittsburgh.

"... I'm a very capable coach in this league. But I do feel like he saw a situation where there was a very experienced coach who could help his staff, who was also a Black coach in the league."

Tomlin expressed pride in the Steelers organization Sunday, praising team owner and President Art Rooney II for hiring Flores despite his pending lawsuit against the league.

"To have an opportunity to impact the game in a positive way, to impact society in a positive way, it's continually an honor to be a part of something that the Rooney family started and led for a long time before my existence here," Tomlin said.

Prior to his February conversations with Flores, Tomlin, who called himself a "lone-wolf type," acknowledged he didn't know the former New England Patriots assistant well. But with Flores' pedigree and track record, Tomlin felt he would make an important addition to the staff.

"Senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach is his title, but there's help that he's going to help us and help me, in particular," Tomlin said. "I love sharpening my sword on his and gaining a perspective that his experiences provide, that wise counsel.

"We're talking about a myriad of things. Whether it's calendar, whether it's taking care of players, whether it's the acquisition or evaluation of talent, it's been fun to have him. His contributions are going to be significant."

A little more than a month into his tenure, Flores is already having an impact. Free-agent linebacker Myles Jack spoke with Flores after Tomlin sold him on joining the Steelers following his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"We both kind of came to the agreement that we both have something to prove," Jack said after signing his two-year, $16 million deal. "Him feeling he was in his situation and myself feeling like, getting released, I feel like I got a second chance at life. I'm just super excited.

"I feel like we kind of vibed about that connection. I'm very excited to work with him and just see what I can learn and see how we can collaborate to make this thing go."

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33610445/mike-tomlin-convinced-use-brian-flores-your-staff-enthused-add-pittsburgh-steelers-new-assistant-coach

[Captain Lemming]

This wasn't about football at all.

https://twitter.com/bepryor/status/1508159941722390529

Tomlin thought Flores would get another head coaching opportunity.
"I would be foolish not to take advantage of his expertise. "

[Bawb the Revelator]

Mike Tomlin, convinced that 'you can use a Brian Flores on your staff,' enthused to add Pittsburgh Steelers' new assistant coach

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL and three teams alleging racial discrimination in their hiring practices, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin felt it was his duty to stay close to the former Miami Dolphins coach.

"I just didn't want him to feel like he was on an island," Tomlin told reporters Sunday from league meetings. "From a coaching fraternity standpoint I owed him that. I was in position to provide that. I think that started our interactions and conversations."

In quick succession, phone calls of advice morphed into a job offer, and Flores joined Tomlin's staff Feb. 19 as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach.

"Over the course of those discussions, particularly when it became evident he was not going to get a head job, then I think the natural discussion began," Tomlin said. "It really ran its course rather quickly, to be quite honest with you. Because it doesn't require a lot of time to come to the realization that you can use a Brian Flores on your staff."

Flores told HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" he talked to Tomlin on Thursday, Feb. 17, and accepted the job that Friday evening.

"I actually was calling Coach T. to really to get some counsel," Flores told Gumbel. "I was thinking about the next steps for me just from a coaching standpoint. And then that conversation turned into an opportunity there in Pittsburgh.

"... I'm a very capable coach in this league. But I do feel like he saw a situation where there was a very experienced coach who could help his staff, who was also a Black coach in the league."

Tomlin expressed pride in the Steelers organization Sunday, praising team owner and President Art Rooney II for hiring Flores despite his pending lawsuit against the league.

"To have an opportunity to impact the game in a positive way, to impact society in a positive way, it's continually an honor to be a part of something that the Rooney family started and led for a long time before my existence here," Tomlin said.

Prior to his February conversations with Flores, Tomlin, who called himself a "lone-wolf type," acknowledged he didn't know the former New England Patriots assistant well. But with Flores' pedigree and track record, Tomlin felt he would make an important addition to the staff.

"Senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach is his title, but there's help that he's going to help us and help me, in particular," Tomlin said. "I love sharpening my sword on his and gaining a perspective that his experiences provide, that wise counsel.

"We're talking about a myriad of things. Whether it's calendar, whether it's taking care of players, whether it's the acquisition or evaluation of talent, it's been fun to have him. His contributions are going to be significant."

A little more than a month into his tenure, Flores is already having an impact. Free-agent linebacker Myles Jack spoke with Flores after Tomlin sold him on joining the Steelers following his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"We both kind of came to the agreement that we both have something to prove," Jack said after signing his two-year, $16 million deal. "Him feeling he was in his situation and myself feeling like, getting released, I feel like I got a second chance at life. I'm just super excited.

"I feel like we kind of vibed about that connection. I'm very excited to work with him and just see what I can learn and see how we can collaborate to make this thing go."

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ssistant-coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers just struck gold again. Can't touch that!

[NorthCoast]

Mike Tomlin, convinced that 'you can use a Brian Flores on your staff,' enthused to add Pittsburgh Steelers' new assistant coach

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL and three teams alleging racial discrimination in their hiring practices, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin felt it was his duty to stay close to the former Miami Dolphins coach.

"I just didn't want him to feel like he was on an island," Tomlin told reporters Sunday from league meetings. "From a coaching fraternity standpoint I owed him that. I was in position to provide that. I think that started our interactions and conversations."

In quick succession, phone calls of advice morphed into a job offer, and Flores joined Tomlin's staff Feb. 19 as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach.

"Over the course of those discussions, particularly when it became evident he was not going to get a head job, then I think the natural discussion began," Tomlin said. "It really ran its course rather quickly, to be quite honest with you. Because it doesn't require a lot of time to come to the realization that you can use a Brian Flores on your staff."

Flores told HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" he talked to Tomlin on Thursday, Feb. 17, and accepted the job that Friday evening.

"I actually was calling Coach T. to really to get some counsel," Flores told Gumbel. "I was thinking about the next steps for me just from a coaching standpoint. And then that conversation turned into an opportunity there in Pittsburgh.

"... I'm a very capable coach in this league. But I do feel like he saw a situation where there was a very experienced coach who could help his staff, who was also a Black coach in the league."

Tomlin expressed pride in the Steelers organization Sunday, praising team owner and President Art Rooney II for hiring Flores despite his pending lawsuit against the league.

"To have an opportunity to impact the game in a positive way, to impact society in a positive way, it's continually an honor to be a part of something that the Rooney family started and led for a long time before my existence here," Tomlin said.

Prior to his February conversations with Flores, Tomlin, who called himself a "lone-wolf type," acknowledged he didn't know the former New England Patriots assistant well. But with Flores' pedigree and track record, Tomlin felt he would make an important addition to the staff.

"Senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach is his title, but there's help that he's going to help us and help me, in particular," Tomlin said. "I love sharpening my sword on his and gaining a perspective that his experiences provide, that wise counsel.

"We're talking about a myriad of things. Whether it's calendar, whether it's taking care of players, whether it's the acquisition or evaluation of talent, it's been fun to have him. His contributions are going to be significant."

A little more than a month into his tenure, Flores is already having an impact. Free-agent linebacker Myles Jack spoke with Flores after Tomlin sold him on joining the Steelers following his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"We both kind of came to the agreement that we both have something to prove," Jack said after signing his two-year, $16 million deal. "Him feeling he was in his situation and myself feeling like, getting released, I feel like I got a second chance at life. I'm just super excited.

"I feel like we kind of vibed about that connection. I'm very excited to work with him and just see what I can learn and see how we can collaborate to make this thing go."

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ssistant-coach

I like the hiring. Everything is all lovey and cushy right now. But let's see what happens if the defense struggles and they don't win. Something about two cooks in a kitchen. They both can't be the smartest man in the room. And where does Austin come in??

[WindyCitySteel]

I like the hiring. Everything is all lovey and cushy right now. But let's see what happens if the defense struggles and they don't win. Something about two cooks in a kitchen. They both can't be the smartest man in the room. And where does Austin come in??

That's the thing. Do they have two cooks? Or is this just a part time job/keep appearances up for BF?

If this was all about football Tomlin would have reached out long ago, or at all, even. If Flores never calls him, is he on the staff?

[Captain Lemming]

That's the thing. Do they have two cooks? Or is this just a part time job/keep appearances up for BF?

If this was all about football Tomlin would have reached out long ago, or at all, even. If Flores never calls him, is he on the staff?

Again,
Tomlin said he thought Flores would get another head coaching opportunity.

Flores came to Tomlin for advice once it Flores understood he wasn't going to get hired. IN THAT CONTEXT the possibility that you had a chance to hire the leagues most overqualified position coach. Therefore his statement:

"I would be foolish not to take advantage of his expertise. "

[Captain Lemming]

I like the hiring. Everything is all lovey and cushy right now. But let's see what happens if the defense struggles and they don't win. Something about two cooks in a kitchen. They both can't be the smartest man in the room. And where does Austin come in??

I think that is where defined roles come in. Flores history is with talent evaluation and linebackers. Therefore, his greater role in scouting.

Beyond that his schematic input amounts to "suggestions" that Tomlin may choose to implement.

If Tomlin was looking to scrap his defense he would have hired an outside guy like Flores as DC

Austin is DC because he knows "Tomlins" defense. Flores doesn't change that.

Now Jerry O? That is the dude whose toes are getting stepped on.

But he needs to just be happy he was not fired in the process of this hire as the middle backers did not play to expectations.

[WindyCitySteel]

Are the Steelers concerned about championships or just social justice? Rooney bragging about a rule forcing teams to hire minority or women assistants. The NFL officially has a racial quota system.

Why not gay? Why not trans? Why not handicapped? Why not Muslim?

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2022/03/28/nfl-diversity-committee-adopts-resolution-to-have-minority-offensive-assistant-on-each-team/stories/202203280092?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Captain Lemming]

Are the Steelers concerned about championships or just social justice? Rooney bragging about a rule forcing teams to hire minority or women assistants. The NFL officially has a racial quota system.

Why not gay? Why not trans? Why not handicapped? Why not Muslim?

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...medium=twitter

Net result of the Rooney rule?
3 minority coaches.

If they agree to the new "suggestions" about assistants big whoop.

I'm going to be fair and try to put myself in the shoes of those poor discriminated white coaches victimized by the racial "quotas" you speak of.

I understand now. Imagine the dreadful inconvenience of having to wait for a couple of interviews before your inevitable hire.

Oh the injustice of it all.

[flippy]

Net result of the Rooney rule?
3 minority coaches.

If they agree to the new "suggestions" about assistants big whoop.

I'm going to be fair and try to put myself in the shoes of those poor discriminated white coaches victimized by the racial "quotas" you speak of.

I understand now. Imagine the dreadful inconvenience of having to wait for a couple of interviews before your inevitable hire.

Oh the injustice of it all.

In all seriousness, I imagine it's tough to make some of this stuff happen quickly.

It'd be like saying women make up half of the US population so we're going to target NBA teams having women make up half the players on their roster. You can just turn women into Lebron James's.

Similarly, I don't see how you can will people into being capable of coaching or doing anything particular for that matter. HC is such a specialized and high profile job, you're not going to find many people of any race, gender, or ethnicity to fill positions. And having 3 Black HCs is probably progress from when they started talking about this stuff. It may not be as much progress as anyone wants, but it's normalized now for HCs, DC, Owners, QBs to be black men. That wasn't normalized generations ago.

It's hard to change minds on anything and we'll probably need generations to pass on for us to continue to make progress on any front. I think the numbers of 15 DC and 7 owners that are Black is another good signal. The wrench in this whole thing is football has shifted to a QB driven league and traditionally Black QBs haven't been the norm and so I think everyone understands there needs to be focus for development of coaches on that side of the ball to continue making progress.

I really don't care what race, gender, etc. ends up being our coach. It's really a small sample of society. And maybe if women or minorities aren't becoming coaches, they're choosing other professions that make a bigger impact on our world.

I think the most important question for everyone is do you feel like you are capable of pursuing any opportunity that you want. Doesn't necessarily mean you'll be capable at anything. If that was true, I'd be an athlete, GM, coach, astronaut, CEO by now. But aside from that, I think it's more important that people feel like they can pursue their own dreams and that any path can be a possibility.

Unfortunately we all can't be Tom Brady, or Michael Jordan, or Mike Tomliin . But hopefully future generations can aspire to do those things if they so feel inclined.

I'm down with the rising tide lifts all boats. When everything gets better for everyone, we all benefit.

[WindyCitySteel]

Net result of the Rooney rule?
3 minority coaches.

If they agree to the new "suggestions" about assistants big whoop.

I'm going to be fair and try to put myself in the shoes of those poor discriminated white coaches victimized by the racial "quotas" you speak of.

I understand now. Imagine the dreadful inconvenience of having to wait for a couple of interviews before your inevitable hire.

Oh the injustice of it all.

This new addition isn't about interviews. From the SI article:

In addition, the league announced Monday all teams will be required to employ either a women or person of color to serve as an offensive assistant, per a statement obtained by United Press International (https://twitter.com/ALaboutSports/status/1508528487057047558?s=20&t=tyIP4oG5yVZ3AUGxk8rISg). The coach will receive a one-year contract and “work closely with the head coach and offensive staff to gain experience.” Clubs will be reimbursed for the hire via a league-wide fund that will contribute toward the coach’s salary for up to two years.

[feltdizz]

Are the Steelers concerned about championships or just social justice? Rooney bragging about a rule forcing teams to hire minority or women assistants. The NFL officially has a racial quota system.

Why not gay? Why not trans? Why not handicapped? Why not Muslim?

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...medium=twitter

If 50% of players were trans or muslim I would think they would do something similar.

and it's obvious why they want women. It's the same reason they wear pink for cancer month. It's a business.

[feltdizz]

In all seriousness, I imagine it's tough to make some of this stuff happen quickly.

It'd be like saying women make up half of the US population so we're going to target NBA teams having women make up half the players on their roster. You can just turn women into Lebron James's.

Similarly, I don't see how you can will people into being capable of coaching or doing anything particular for that matter. HC is such a specialized and high profile job, you're not going to find many people of any race, gender, or ethnicity to fill positions. And having 3 Black HCs is probably progress from when they started talking about this stuff. It may not be as much progress as anyone wants, but it's normalized now for HCs, DC, Owners, QBs to be black men. That wasn't normalized generations ago.

It's hard to change minds on anything and we'll probably need generations to pass on for us to continue to make progress on any front. I think the numbers of 15 DC and 7 owners that are Black is another good signal. The wrench in this whole thing is football has shifted to a QB driven league and traditionally Black QBs haven't been the norm and so I think everyone understands there needs to be focus for development of coaches on that side of the ball to continue making progress.

I really don't care what race, gender, etc. ends up being our coach. It's really a small sample of society. And maybe if women or minorities aren't becoming coaches, they're choosing other professions that make a bigger impact on our world.

I think the most important question for everyone is do you feel like you are capable of pursuing any opportunity that you want. Doesn't necessarily mean you'll be capable at anything. If that was true, I'd be an athlete, GM, coach, astronaut, CEO by now. But aside from that, I think it's more important that people feel like they can pursue their own dreams and that any path can be a possibility.

Unfortunately we all can't be Tom Brady, or Michael Jordan, or Mike Tomliin . But hopefully future generations can aspire to do those things if they so feel inclined.

I'm down with the rising tide lifts all boats. When everything gets better for everyone, we all benefit.

Owners are going to hire who they want. This latest change won't do a damn thing. Look at Lefty and Beinemy. It isn't about playing Quarterback or coaching on offense. Usually when an OC wins a SB they are immediately up for a coaching gig. Owners are gong to hire who makes them comfortable and its a copycat league, everyone wants the young white head coach right now.

Just the way it is and no rule will change these owners minds.

[flippy]

Owners are going to hire who they want. This latest change won't do a damn thing. Look at Lefty and Beinemy. It isn't about playing Quarterback or coaching on offense. Usually when an OC wins a SB they are immediately up for a coaching gig. Owners are gong to hire who makes them comfortable and its a copycat league, everyone wants the young white head coach right now.

Just the way it is and no rule will change these owners minds.

I really do think lots of little positive things collectively move the needle and this will make an impact for generations to come.

Lefty and B are just 2 guys. And there's the possibility those 2 guys just haven't been a fit for any club for whatever reason. What have the done on their resumes to earn them a HC spot? Is Lefty the guy you want working with some young QB cause he's the guy who got Tom Brady to another SuperBowl that he couldn't have gotten to without Lefty? Or has B had an impact on Mahommes and made him a superstar?

What sucks for the black HC movement is pinning your offensive hope on 2 guys that might not be the best potential guys. And that's where having many more guys to choose from can only help the cause. Do you really see Lefty and B on the level of guys like Tomlin and Flores who are legit HCs and leaders? Not that they couldn't be, but I don't see it.

It's hard to boil the ocean so unfortunately we have to settle for baby steps as small victories that add up.