Brian Flores’ Future Is Confirmed
The Vikings entered this year’s offseason with some massive question marks surrounding the coaching staff. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota’s head coach since February of 2022, somehow landed in trade rumors, and it was uncertain whether he would stick with the Vikings beyond the 2025 season, which was the final year of his contract.
Brian Flores’ Future Is Confirmed
Just days after the disappointing playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams, the Vikings took care of business, giving him a long-term contract extension. In addition to him, though, the league took a long look at some of his assistants and coordinators after the surprising 14-3 season. Often, the reason for an overachieving team is the talent of the coaching staff.
Surprisingly, the Vikings avoided an exodus of their brain trust, losing only assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski, who bolted for Jacksonville’s OC position.
Brian Flores was a hot coaching candidate this time after failing to generate any interest a year ago. Now, however, the final opening has officially been filled. The New Orleans Saints announced that former Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will become their next head coach, following on interim coach Darren Rizzi and the previously fired Dennis Allen.
The Saints wrote on their website, “The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have agreed with Kellen Moore to become the 19th head coach in franchise history. Moore, a 13-year NFL veteran, played quarterback for six seasons (2012-17) and entered the coaching ranks in 2018, serving as an offensive coordinator for the past six campaigns. Moore comes to New Orleans after serving as offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.”
For some reason, Flores wasn’t on the Saints’ radar, which is good news for the Vikings. The defensive coordinator will be back for a third season with the club.
A day after landing Coach of the Year honors as the second Vikings coach (Bud Grant in 1969), head coach O’Connell confirmed the return of his premier assistant. In an appearance on PFT Live, he said:
“I can’t speak more highly about what Brian Flores has brought to Minnesota,” O’Connell declared. “When we identified him as the guy that we wanted to bring in coming off the 2022 season, he has been fantastic. Scheme, relationship with players, my personal relationship with him, how we build our team. I think Brian Flores should be a head coach in the National Football League. He will be again…But, at the same time, we feel like we’ve got some unfinished business together in Minnesota, and we can’t wait to get to work for 2025.”
Flores took over a horrendous defensive unit after the 2022 season. He transformed the group ‒ after an up-and-down year in 2023 ‒ into one of the elite defenses in the NFL last year.
The new arrivals Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman, as well as the additions to the secondary in Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin, made a huge difference, but he also went back to the drawing board and made some adjustments to his unique scheme.
Once again, the defensive personnel will change. The aforementioned Griffin and Gilmore, as well as top cornerback Byron Murphy and backup Fabian Moreau, are scheduled to become free agents in March. Barring contract extensions in the next four weeks, safeties Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum will join them.
The good news is that Flores can overhaul the roster by acquiring players who fit his scheme, allowing even more growth in his third year of captaining the defensive ship.
Flores will turn 44 this month, and unless the defense will experience an unlikely breakdown in the upcoming season, he will once again appear on the head coaching market next year.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt