Hours after the Carolina Panthers hired Frank Reich as the team’s head coach on Thursday, lawyers for former interim coach Steve Wilks ripped the decision.

Wilks is a co-plaintiff in racial discrimination lawsuit initially filed against the NFL a year ago by Brian Flores, the former Miami Dolphins hack coach and current Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach. After the Panthers fired Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start, Wilks went 6-6.

“We are shocked and disturbed that after the incredible job, Coach Wilks did as the interim coach, including bringing the team back into playoff contention and garnering the support of the players and fans that he was passed over for the head coach position by David Tepper,” attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and John Elefterakis said in a statement to Front Office Sports.

“There is a legitimate race problem in the NFL, and we can assure you that we will have more to say in the coming days.”