As One Brian Flores Option Closes, Vikings May Consider Adding a Coach with a Patriots Connection

To my knowledge, there wasn’t a request from the Patriots to interview Brian Flores, but the defensive coordinator did have interest in applying for the job. The recent news about New England hiring Mike Vrabel ends the chance of Flores going to the Patriots.
But while there has been a lot of attention being given toward losing a coach, there hasn’t been quite as much focus on who could be added. More specifically, does Minnesota make a move to pickup the head coach that the Patriots let go of — Jerod Mayo — in favor of Vrabel?
Brian Flores, The Vikings, & Adding a New Coach
To be clear, the hope is still to retain Coach Flores.
The defensive coordinator is a brilliant tactician. True, the defense sometimes gives up too many yards, but the overall group has been strong despite some shortcomings with the personnel. Minnesota finished the year with the NFL’s 5th-ranked defense, allowing an average of just 19.5 points against per game.
And, no doubt, there’s a chance that he still gets scooped up to be a head coach somewhere. If that occurs, Kevin O’Connell will need to pivot toward a new defensive coordinator. Would it be Mayo?

Keep in mind that Mayo is someone whom O’Connell knows well. In fact, both entered the NFL as part of the same 2008 draft class. At No. 10, the Patriots opted for the linebacker coming out of Tennessee, Jerod Mayo. Fast forward to pick No. 94 and O’Connell became a Patriot.
The topic was brought up at the most recent NFL Combine, noting the draft class connection before asking about O’Connell’s surprise (or lack thereof) of Mayo’s ascension to becoming New England’s head coach.
Check out O’Connell’s response: “No, no I wasn’t [surprised]. And, in fact, now that he’s officially retired, I think we can start the head coach watch for Matthew Slater now, as well. But I’ve always told those guys my hope was to race them into coaching and get out in front of them as far as I could, because just like they did much superior to me as players, they’re probably going to do the same in this capacity, as well.”
And then key quote in the immediate follow-up thought: “I think the world of Jerod, always have. Tried to possibly work with him multiple times over my coaching journey just cause of the leader he is.” Not long afterwards, O’Connell then reflected on his rookie season, noting that Mayo was one of the “alphas” who helped to lead.

Obviously, things didn’t work out particularly well for New England in 2024 (hence the coaching change). Jerod Mayo led a team that finished last in the AFC East with a 4-13 record. The offense came in at 30th in the NFL be averaging 17 points while the defense came in at 22nd by allowing an average of 24.5 points against per game.
But just because things didn’t work out perfectly for Mayo as a head coach, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be an opportunity for him somewhere.
After all, Kevin O’Connell has already acknowledged a previous interest in coaching alongside his former teammate in New England. Any chance O’Connell looks to add Mayo to Minnesota’s coaching staff regardless of what happens with Brian Flores?

Of course, some of this discussion can get pushed into the future a bit. Much more pressing for the Vikings is a Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams. Winning on the road would mean travelling to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Kickoff takes place tonight at 7 p.m. CT.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.

The Vikings Now Know Their Playoff Route
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.