The NFL's in-house arbitration process isn't dead, but it's on the verge of a TKO. On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the NFL's petition for appeal in the Brian Flores case. From the 25-page document submitted by the league in January 2026,

The Supreme Court has refused to intervene in a discrimination lawsuit led by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL, allowing the case to proceed toward trial

SCOTUS deals the NFL a setback by declining to hear its appeal in the Brian Flores discrimination case, which means case heads to trial rather than arbitration.

Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, sued the NFL and three teams in February 2022, alleging the league was “rife with racism” regarding its hiring practices.

The Supreme Court refused to intervene in a discrimination lawsuit led by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores against the NFL, allowing the case to proceed toward trial. The NFL had hoped to handle the case through its own arbitration process.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined to accept the NFL's appeal in the case brought by Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores (and Steve Wilks and Ray Horton).

The Supreme Court turned away an appeal by the NFL stemming from coach Brian Flores' racial discrimination suit, allowing his case to proceed in federal court.

The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to take up an appeal from the National Football League in a class action lawsuit from Brian Flores and other Black coaches who have claimed racial discrimination.