Two coaches are currently suing the NFL: Jon Gruden and Brian Flores. While their lawsuits stem from very different issues, both have recently achieved significant early victories in court. Following these developments, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made a bold prediction about the coaches’ futures in the NFL.
Stephen A. Smith Predicts NFL Comebacks for Jon Gruden and Brian Flores Following Court Wins
When legal disputes arise in the NFL, they typically go through NFL arbitration, a private legal process established by the league. The rules for arbitration are outlined in the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and are designed to handle disputes internally and efficiently.
However, in some cases, individuals suing the league can challenge the arbitration requirement through federal appeals or higher court rulings, allowing their cases to proceed in public court. This month, both Flores and Gruden won such rulings, enabling their lawsuits to be heard in open court.
In 2022, Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, the New York Giants, the Houston Texans, and the Denver Broncos, alleging discriminatory hiring practices and racial bias in the league’s head coach hiring process. Today, a federal appeals court ruled that Flores’ case can be heard in open court.
Gruden resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 after offensive emails he had sent were released during the NFL’s investigation into the Washington Commanders.
Gruden sued the league, claiming that Commissioner Roger Goodell orchestrated a campaign to damage his reputation by leaking the emails. The Nevada Supreme Court recently ruled in his favor, deciding that NFL arbitration does not apply to him as a former employee, allowing his case to proceed in open court as well.
Given their recent legal victories, on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith boldly claimed that both Gruden and Flores will become NFL head coaches again.
“I believe that both Jon Gruden and Brian Flores will find themselves back in the NFL as head coaches.”@stephenasmith shares his thoughts on Jon Gruden and Brian Flores ✍️ pic.twitter.com/wwfNTSat1D
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 15, 2025
“I believe that both Jon Gruden and Brian Flores will find themselves back in the NFL as head coaches,” Smith said.
Flores served as head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. Although he did not secure a head coaching job in the 2022 offseason, he remained in the league and has been the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings since 2023.
Gruden has not returned to the NFL since his 2021 resignation but has expressed interest in coaching again. The former Super Bowl champion currently works for Barstool Sports.
While both coaches still have a long road ahead in their lawsuits, avoiding NFL arbitration is a significant win, and Smith’s prediction that they could return as NFL head coaches in the near future is likely an accurate one.
