New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has never been known as a tech-savvy individual. It’s a personality trait that he basically owns. But in the process, he may have exposed the NFL’s systemic racial bias in head-coaching hires.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is suing the New York Giants and the NFL for alleged racism in hiring practices, and a text exchange with Belichick is a major focus in the suit.
According to the lawsuit, Belichick accidentally texted Flores to congratulate him on landing the Giants gig. A confused Flores wanted to know if Belichick had heard something different because Flores’ interview wasn’t until later in the week. That was when Belichick realized he should have been texting Brian Daboll — instead of Brian Flores.
Check it out
this is absolutely insane https://t.co/nJOVXv06wk pic.twitter.com/UXmpB9X5hd
— manny (@mannyfidel) February 1, 2022
“Thanks Bill.”
Belichick apologized for the confusion, but he still revealed that the Giants had made their choice before Flores even had a chance to interview for the job. Basically, the Giants were going to treat the Flores interview as a courtesy to fulfill the “Rooney Rule” rather than actually consider Flores, who is Black, for the position.
The Rooney Rule requires every team to interview at least one diverse candidate for a head-coaching vacancy. And by settling on Daboll before Flores even had a chance to interview, it showed that Flores was never going to get the consideration he deserved to begin with. The interview was a sham — according to Flores — and the NFL world had plenty of thoughts on Belichick being the one to accidentally reveal that.
This was how Twitter reacted
Stop making fun of Bill Belichick's texting he is doing his very best pic.twitter.com/HYO6wFSARZ
— Jason Kirk (@thejasonkirk) February 1, 2022
Belichick wasn't faking his technophobia pic.twitter.com/uidwpApkXg
— Kevin Cole (@KevinColePFF) February 1, 2022
"Thanks Bill" I'm out of my MIIIIIIND rn https://t.co/t5W9jfF4ra
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) February 1, 2022
Belichick overshadowing Brady today
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) February 1, 2022
This Brian Flores lawsuit is a BOMBSHELL. He alleges:
– Miami owner Stephen Ross offered to pay him $100,000 for each loss
– Ross pressured him to tamper
– texts from Bill Belichick show that the Giants already had their coach picked before they even interviewed him. https://t.co/JSqPtgyw8M— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) February 1, 2022
Just wait until we find out Bill Belichick meant to text Adam Sandler about Tom Brady’s retirement but accidentally texted Adam Schefter.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) February 1, 2022
Bill Belichick realizing he texted the wrong Brian. pic.twitter.com/oOO4ss8Y8x
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) February 1, 2022
Bill Belichick single-handedly destroyed the NFL on the day Brady retired. My life is complete. https://t.co/ZcWId8SHAK
— Josh No-coin Hermsmeyer (@friscojosh) February 1, 2022
Known technophile Bill Belichick. pic.twitter.com/Rk1kSSHfDd
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) February 1, 2022
It’s probably going to be a long time until Belichick sends another text message.
