MOBILE, AL — Before Brian Flores and Adam Gase, the Miami Dolphins’ head coach was Dan Campbell. He took over for fired HC Joe Philbin four games into the 2015 season, went 5-7, and actually got an interview with owner Stephen Ross for the permanent gig.
Six years later, the Dolphins are in the news for embarrassing reasons, yet again, and Campbell is the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
Dan Campbell weighs in on Miami Dolphins scandal
On Wednesday, Campbell fielded questions about Ross — his former boss — and the explosive allegations made by Brian Flores in a federal racial discrimination lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Flores argues that Miami ostracized him after failing to lose on purpose in 2019 — alleging that Ross offered him $100,000 per loss during the tank season.
Additionally, Flores declined an improper recruiting meeting with a top quarterback (believed to be Tom Brady) in early 2020.
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A reporter asked Campbell, who is here coaching the American Team in this week’s Senior Bowl, for his thoughts on Flores’ allegations.
“Honestly, I don’t even want to get into that, because I don’t know all the ins and outs of that,” Campbell replied. “My time in Miami, I didn’t have any — there was no — I can’t think of any negative interactions I had with Steve Ross. Or anybody involved there.
“So I’ve really got nothing to speak on it,” Campbell added. “Look, we have enough of our own things going on here that we’ve got to do without thinking about all that stuff outside our building.”
Campbell vouches for Staley, Glenn as future head coaches
Campbell was far more interested in praising two potential future head coaches on his staff — defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and assistant head coach Duce Staley. Both are Black. Furthermore, Glenn is up for the New Orleans Saints’ HC opening. Staley is serving as the American Team’s head coach this week.
Campbell’s comments Wednesday on Glenn:
“Listen, I do not want to lose AG. What he’s brought to us in the locker room. What he’s given our defense. And knowing where it’s going to go. I’m telling you he’s going to be a home run as a head coach. He’s passionate. He’s smart. He’s got a good feel of personnel, how to use his own guys. He’s been trained the way I have to think of it collectively. He’s organized. He’s thorough. He’s kind of a chess player, if you will. He’s always ahead of the game. He would be an outstanding head coach.”
Campbell’s thoughts on Staley:
“Duce is good. It’s hard to contain his excitement at times. He was ready for the challenge. So I know he’s excited, and he’ll only get better as the week goes on here. He puts out some fires I don’t even know about. That’s part of being an assistant head coach. Duce is another one. Certainly, I think he’ll be a head coach in this league and I think he’ll be a damn good one. Because he’s a leader. A leader of men.”
Saleh on Brian Flores: ‘A really, really good man’
Jets coach Robert Saleh, who is also working this week’s game, declined to speak even broadly about Flores’ allegations but praised his character.
“Just from my interactions with B-Flo, he’s a phenomenal coach,” Saleh said. “He always gives us a headache, anywhere he’s ever been. A standup guy to talk to in pre-game and post-game. I really appreciate all the interactions I’ve had with him. He’s a really, really good man.”
The crux of Flores’ legal argument is that Giants interviewed him only to fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement and had already decided to hire Brian Daboll before even meeting with Flores.
Did Robert Saleh ever interview to check Rooney Rule box?
Saleh, the NFL’s first Arab American and Muslim head coach, insisted he doesn’t believe he has ever been part of a token interview.
“I can only speak for me and my experiences,” Saleh added. “You try to do good by people. Our beat knows I’m an eternal optimist. I always see the good in people. That one is a tough one for me.”
As for the NFL’s broader issue — just one current NFL head coach is Black — Saleh said the following:
“Everyone has their own philosophy on how it can happen and how it can happen better. I could sit here for hours and talk about our experiences here with the Jets and what we try to do, but I do think, with the leadership of Troy Vincent and all of the different people at the NFL office, I know they’re working diligently to try to rectify and thrust minorities into prominent roles. Is it tough right now? For sure. But I know the NFL is trying hard, and eventually, it’s going to get there.”
