The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores may pursue his race-discrimination lawsuit against the National Football League in federal court, rejecting the league’s effort to force the case into arbitration overseen by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Writing for a unanimous three-judge panel, Judge José A. Cabranes said the NFL constitution’s arbitration clause is “plainly unenforceable,” offering no independent forum or bilateral process and therefore failing to meet basic standards under the Federal Arbitration Act. The panel found that compelling Flores to submit his claims to Goodell “offends basic presumptions of our arbitration jurisprudence.” Flores, now defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, sued the NFL and three teams—the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Houston Texans—in February 2022, alleging he and other Black coaches were subjected to “sham” interviews conducted solely to satisfy the league’s diversity-oriented Rooney Rule. The ruling lets his claims, along with those of coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, advance toward trial against the league and the three clubs; separate claims tied to other employment contracts remain in arbitration. An NFL spokesperson said the league “respectfully disagrees” with the decision and will seek further review. The case, Flores v. New York Football Giants Inc. (No. 23-1185), now returns to federal district court for pre-trial proceedings.