Vikings Fans Are Two Headlines Away From Exhaling
The Minnesota Vikings have two massive offseason storylines dominating the early calendar: Brian Flores and the quarterback room. The latter won’t be resolved anytime soon — but the former may be nearing a conclusion. With only two head coaching jobs still open across the NFL, Flores is rapidly running out of exit paths.
This year, a whopping ten head coaching jobs became available. That included several highly-regarded ones like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens, or the Buffalo Bills; others seemingly look for a new skipper every year. Eight have found an answer, two are still looking.
- Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Stefanski
- Baltimore Ravens: Jesse Minter
- Buffalo Bills: Joe Brady
- Cleveland Browns: Todd Monken
- Miami Dolphins: Jeff Hafley
- New York Giants: John Harbaugh
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike McCarthy
- Tennessee Titans: Robert Saleh
At this point, only the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders need their new head coach. Neither has interviewed Minnesota’s defensive coordinator so far. Of course, they could change their minds later in the process, so it’s not fully confirmed that Flores will return for a fourth season in charge of the defensive unit. Only two more hiring decisions stand between the Vikings and full clarity.
The Vikings announced Flores’ contract extension last week when he was still in the running for the top gigs in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Both organizations went in a different direction, leaving Flores without a clear path back to the throne. The Vikings ensured Flores would remain in the building for 2026, barring a promotion.
Both the Cardinals and the Raiders have met with several candidates, and some have even landed second interviews. It would be surprising if they went out and added more names to the list, but it’s certainly not impossible.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell commented on his defensive counterpart when the contract extension was announced, “Brian has a unique ability to connect with players, understand their skill sets, and put them in positions to maximize their impact on the field. The identity of our defense is a reflection of his leadership and preparation. On a personal level, I’ve really valued the relationship we’ve built over the last three years, and that shared trust, alignment and high standard will continue to be critical to our success.”
Flores’ defense carried much of the load during Minnesota’s 9–8 season, often compensating for inconsistent offensive play.
In his tenure with the club, the Vikings have allowed only 19.2 points per game, which is the second-lowest in the NFL. Over the last two campaigns, Minnesota has ranked near the top of the league in multiple advanced defensive metrics. The Vikings have the league’s best defensive EPA/Play in that span. In DVOA, the Vikings’ defense ranked 2nd in 2024 and 3rd in 2025.
If neither Arizona nor Las Vegas makes a late move for Brian Flores, the Vikings will finally be able to exhale. Keeping one of the league’s most impactful defensive coordinators provides stability in an offseason already filled with uncertainty elsewhere on the roster.
Flores has anchored Minnesota’s competitiveness and given the team an identity that doesn’t vanish week to week. With only two head coaching jobs left open, the risk of losing that foundation is shrinking by the day. Once those final dominoes fall, the Vikings can shift fully toward shaping the rest of their offseason — and fans can finally breathe a little easier.