Overview
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that all claims by Brian Flores, Steve Wilks and Ray Horton can be handled at trial rather than through league arbitration.
- Judge Valerie Caproni’s decision follows a 2025 Second Circuit finding of fundamental flaws in the NFL’s arbitration system, concluding the process lacks an independent, neutral forum under the Federal Arbitration Act.
- The ruling covers Flores’ claims against the NFL, Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Houston Texans, Wilks’ claims against the Arizona Cardinals, and Horton’s claims against the Tennessee Titans.
- Attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb praised the shift to court, arguing that a process overseen by the league’s chief executive would strip employees of legal rights.
- A pre-trial conference is set for Friday, April 3, and the NFL has previously petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on the broader arbitration question.