Two Early Theories About Brian Flores’ Future
Brian Flores’ future is up in the air, as he is in the final weeks of his defensive coordinator contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Furthermore, he is generally viewed as an intriguing candidate for this cycle’s head coach openings.
As we heard a couple of weeks ago, the Vikings are working on a contract extension, but Flores can just wait and see whether he’ll get a promotion or even a better DC offer elsewhere. His future, along with potential changes to the QB room, will dominate conversations in the Twin Cities until both matters are resolved.
After the first smoke from the coaching carousel has cleared, there are two main theories about Flores’ future if it doesn’t take place in the State of 10,000 Lakes.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach
The Las Vegas Raiders have ended the Pete Carroll experiment after just one three-win season. Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio started to mention Flores as a candidate for the Raiders. Minority owner Tom Brady could be in his corner, who wants to infuse the franchise with some Patriots DNA.
Flores worked for the Patriots for more than a decade in various positions under Bill Belichick before moving on to the top job with the Miami Dolphins.
“There’s a rumor currently making the rounds that, once Brady rolls up his sleeves (while also wearing one glove and an expensive-ass watch), he’ll make the case for bringing in Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores,” Florio noted.
At this point, Klint Kubiak, Vance Joseph, Davis Webb, and Matt Nagy are scheduled to interview for the opening.
Las Vegas has been a revolving door for head coaches in recent years, and the organization hasn’t been particularly sound. It remains to be seen whether Flores would actually be interested, given it might be his last chance.
The fit makes sense in theory, but at this point, it’s nothing more than a rumor. Other head coaching openings include the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Atlanta Falcons.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator
Insert theory number two. Flores could be an option in Dallas. The Cowboys just parted ways with former Bears HC Matt Eberflus, who took over from previous DC Mike Zimmer. The results left a lot to be desired. J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings carved up that unit in Week 15, and he’s not getting full credit because the Cowboys’ defense was that weak.
Once again, Mike Florio reported that Dallas could be in the market for Minnesota’s defensive mastermind. But the Cowboys as a destination have gotten some steam beyond him.
The Athletic‘s Jon Machota added to the reporting: “Why would he leave the Minnesota Vikings’ top defense to coach Dallas’ struggling group? It’s a fair question. Flores wants to again be an NFL head coach. Fixing the Cowboys’ defense would likely have the same impact it had on Dan Quinn. Turn it around and your name is right back near the top of the head-coaching candidates list. Flores’ defenses do exactly what the Cowboys were missing this season. They’re aggressive and great at disguising their intentions.”
While Minnesota is frequently flying under the radar, no franchise is getting more attention than the Cowboys, whether they are good or bad. If Flores were able to significantly improve that defense, it could help elevate his profile in future head-coaching discussions.
The Cowboys have some intriguing pieces on defense, but it might not be an easy fix after all. It should be noted that Eberflus is generally a decent defensive mind in his own right. Flores had an inconsistent first season with the Vikings, followed by an excellent second campaign when he got his hands on Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jonathan Greenard.
Flores is in a unique situation: he can make a lateral move because his contract is set to expire. But like the Raiders path, it hasn’t evolved beyond the rumor status.
For now, Flores’ future remains unresolved, and much of the early chatter will depend on how the broader coaching market develops over the coming weeks. Vikings fans can only wait and watch the situation unfold.