![Brian Flores: "That conversation [with Coach Tomlin] turned into an opportunity" (Coaching News)](/img/legacy/4774607_web1_ptr-FloresGumbel-022222.v1-1600x900.webp)
Tuesday night, HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will air an episode featuring the latest assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brian Flores.
Flores, who was named senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for the Steelers last Saturday, sat down with Gumbel and spoke about how exactly he was brought into the Steel City's coaching staff. From what started as a simple phone call, reaching out to Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin, ended up as an exciting job offer:
Brian Flores tells HBO Real Sports that it came together quickly with the Steelers. A conversation on Thursday, more on Friday and he accepted the job. Flores said he called Tomlin for mentorship and it morphed into a job offer.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) February 22, 2022
“I actually was calling ‘Coach T,’ really, to get some counsel,” Flores said in an excerpt of the episode provided by HBO. “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.” - Excerpt from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
[incontent2]
With Flores still in an active lawsuit against the NFL regarding racism in hiring practices, many believed Flores was inevitably going to be blackballed by the league. Flores spoke to how important and meaningful this hire was to him, especially as an African-American coach:
Bryant Gumbel asked Brian Flores if he believes Mike Tomlin threw him a lifeline with the hire.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 22, 2022
Flores, in part: " 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."
full answer⬇️ pic.twitter.com/TN6e6E1PpP
Yinz can catch the full episode of the interview tonight on HBO.
More to come.
#SteelerNation
