Vikings Fans Have a Brian Flores Situation to Monitor

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores speaks with reporters at TCO Performance Center. Flores joined the team in 2023, replacing Ed Donatell after a disappointing season defensively. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores deserves another head coaching job, but in back-to-back offseasons, no team has taken the plunge. Brian Flores’ contract runs out after 2025, and the Vikings must address his future. It could be a “Will he stay or go?” ordeal. Flores interviewed with a handful of teams five months ago, ending up back in Minnesota for a third consecutive season after no promotion. Now, there’s a mystery about his future: Will the Vikings extend Flores this summer, with 2025 as his contract’s final year, or does the defensive boss prefer to go full tilt into the head coaching market next January and February? What’s the Deal with Brian Flores? Brian Flores’ Future with Vikings Up in the Air Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling, who is quite plugged into the Vikings’ interworkings, said on the Access Vikings Podcast this week, “Brian Flores is also in a contract year. There is, I think, interest in an extension from the team. I will be curious to see if Flores decides to sign something or if he tries to test the market because he was in those head coaching conversations last year with a couple of teams. I wonder how that’s going to go.” Oct 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks on during a matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports. That statement generated mystery because it was neither very emphatic nor clear in either direction. The Case for Staying in Minnesota Indefinitely Flores is cooking in Minnesota. Full stop. His defense ranked second leaguewide last season per DVOA and EPA/Play, improving in consecutive campaigns after head coach Kevin O’Connell dismissed Ed Donatell following the 2022 season. Minnesota defensive coordinator B. Flores speaks to reporters at the TCO Performance Center on July 25, 2024. Flores took over in February 2023 after the team ranked 30th in points allowed the previous season. He actually has a chance to win a Super Bowl in Minnesota if one assumes that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will trend in the right direction over the next few seasons. Long story short, Flores is in a sweet spot per roster construction and personnel. Why leave? The Case for Another Head Coaching Job On the other hand, Flores’ production and leadership in the Twin Cities absolutely should be parlayed into a head coaching job. Flores led the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021 before a controversial split, and by the time he rolls around to the next coaching carousel, he’ll be five years removed from that post. Dec 19, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach B. Flores jogs off the field after a victory over the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports. Hiring Flores as a head coach isn’t a hot take, nor does it feel like a situation where the man needs one big chance. He’s already proven that he can lead men — in Miami and Minnesota. Flores, per the Goessling comments, evidently must decide to re-up with Minnesota or focus on the head coach scene next offseason. The Prediction It’s a no-brainer that Flores should get another crack at the big job somewhere in the NFL. Of course, fans would love to keep him forever in Minneapolis, but that’s just not realistic. Faced with the prospect of Flores being the Vikings’ defense coordinator in 2026 or finding a promotion, the latter is more likely. Thankfully, Flores has age on his side. He’s 44. Janik Eckardt on Brian Flores, Vikings Defense Earlier this offseason, VikingsTerritory‘s Janik Eckardt wrote about Flores and the team’s defense: “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.” “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.” Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores scans the field during the second quarter versus the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports. Minnesota later splashed in free agency by onboarding two new defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, while signing cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. Eckardt added, “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, 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.” No matter what, onlookers should enjoy the ride with Flores in 2025. It may be his swan song. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily ... More about Dustin Baker