Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin feels lucky to add an asset as valuable as new senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach Brian Flores.
Flores was fired from his role as head coach of the Miami Dolphins in January following the franchise's first back-to-back winning seasons since 2003, finishing 10-6 in 2020 and 9-8 in 2021.
During the fallout of his stint in Miami, Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL, the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants.
In it, he accused the Broncos and Giants of flawed hiring processes, alleging the two franchises only offered interviews to comply with the league's 'Rooney Rule', which requires teams to interview candidates of colour for head coaching and senior operation vacancies.
The class action brought by Flores alleged the NFL "remains rife with racism, particularly when it comes to the hiring and retention of black head coaches, coordinators and general managers".
Flores also alleged he was offered $100,000 per loss by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross in 2019 in an effort to secure a better draft position.
All parties have strenuously denied Flores' allegations.
Flores was confirmed as the Steelers' new defensive assistant and linebackers coach last month, and Tomlin acknowledged that his decision to offer him a role was partly influenced by a desire to ensure he was not exiled from the league.
"I just didn't want him to feel like he was on an island," he told reporters on Sunday.
"From a coaching fraternity standpoint, I owed him that. I was in position to provide that. I think that started our interactions and conversations.
"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.
"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 realisation that you can use a Brian Flores on your staff."
Tomlin believes Flores will bring a level of experience that will help shape decision-making on every level.
"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," he added.
"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."