Category: Coaching Staff

NFC North division rival requests interview with Brian Flores

The Chicago Bears have requested an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores regarding their vacant head coach position.

According to Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears have requested an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores regarding their vacant head coach position. Flores was expected to be interviewed for head coaching opportunities this offseason, but one coming from a division rival is always a surprise.

The Bears are recognizing coaching talent within their division. Adam Schefter reports that the Bears want to interview Flores and have also requested interviews with the Lions’ Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.

As for Brian Flores, this marks the second interview he has been requested for on Monday. Earlier in the day, the New York Jets submitted a request for him to interview with them for their open head coaching spot. The Jets would create quite the storyline as it would put him back in the division with the team he coached prior, the Miami Dolphins.

The storyline would also be entertaining if he were to land the Bears job, considering the same joke would apply.

Jets request interviews with two Vikings assistants for HC job

Less than 24 hours after their final game of the regular season, two Vikings assistants have already been about the Jets hC vacancy.

Whenever a team like the Minnesota Vikings has a season where they go 14-3, you can expect some of their coaches to be interviewed for head coaching vacancies. Less than 24 hours after their final game of the regular season, two Vikings assistants have already been contacted.

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that both defensive coordinator Brian Flores and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown have been requested to interview for the Jets head coaching vacancy.

Brian Flores led a Vikings defense that saw them become one of the best defenses in the NFL. Their high-pressure rate and turnover rate went up in 2024 and were a major part of their success.

Josh McCown helped coach both rookie J.J. McCarthy during the preseason and veteran Sam Darnold all year long. McCarthy looked good in his lone preseason appearance, while Sam Darnold emerged as an MVP candidate.

No timetable has been set for their interviews as the Vikings visit the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.

Vikings DC Brian Flores already getting head coach buzz

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores will be a hot name for coaching vacancies this offseason, but will anyone hire him?

Perhaps the most surprising story this season is the Minnesota Vikings. Before the season started, few — if any — would have predicted that Minnesota would be undefeated after having to face the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans in back-to-back weeks.

Yet, that’s exactly where the Vikings are sitting going into a Week 4 matchup against their heated division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. A lot of the credit for the Vikings’ three-game winning streak has to go to defensive coordinator Brian Flores for what he’s been able to do with the Vikings’ defense this season.

Minnesota has quickly developed a reputation for giving opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators fits. Flores has devised a scheme and been able to mask what he’s doing to perfection, and it’s driven the Vikings to a 3-0 record, with two wins over two of the toughest teams the league has to offer.

The performance Flores has gotten out of his defense has put the league on notice in more ways than one. According to ESPN NFL reporter Dan Graziano, Flores is “the buzziest” name among coordinators working their way into the inevitable coaching carousel that will follow this season.

Some were surprised that Flores wasn’t considered for a head coaching position coming into this season after what he did with the 2023 defense. With a repeat performance this year, it may be hard for teams to ignore Flores. However, as Graziano cautions, Flores comes with significant baggage.

Flores is still actively involved in a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging “racial discrimination in the league’s hiring practices.” Graziano says that the Vikings’ defense “could be the reincarnation of the 1985 Bears, and it would still be hard to imagine an owner hiring a head coach who’s in the middle of suing the league.”

The lawsuit against the league certainly complicates things, but if Flores and the Vikings’ defense keep doing what they’ve been doing through three weeks, it’s going to be hard for the league to keep him out of an interview room for the second-year in a row.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky says Kevin O’Connell outcoached the 49ers

On Sunday, the Vikings were able to defeat Shanahan and the 49ers, and it was because of Minnesota’s staff, according to one ESPN analyst.

The San Francisco 49ers, led by Kyle Shanahan, are considered one of the best staffs in the entire NFL. Several staff members, such as DeMeco Ryans and Mike McDaniel, have gone on to become head coaches.

However, on Sunday, the Vikings defeated Shanahan and the 49ers, and it was because of Minnesota’s staff, according to one ESPN analyst.

Dan Orlovsky, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst, praised the Vikings on Monday. He specifically credited Kevin O’Connell as being one of the “best bread crumb layers” with what he does on offense. He also mentioned the work of Brian Flores to confuse and pressure Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense.

Brock Purdy was 16-1 against NFC teams in his NFL career heading into Sunday’s game. His lone loss came to the Vikings last year and now he can credit them and Brian Flores with his other loss against the NFC as well.

Senior Bowl Director praises work done by Vikings DC Brian Flores

The Minnesota Vikings season was in a tailspin following the injury of J.J. McCarthy, but the coaching staff wouldn’t listen to it.

The Minnesota Vikings season was in a tailspin following the injury of J.J. McCarthy, but the coaching staff wouldn’t listen to it. The outside noise has never been a thing for Vikings and Kevin O’Connell, especially Brian Flores.

Flores’s defense has been playing with some special intensity through two weeks of the NFL season, and people notice it.

Jim Nagy, the Director of the NFL’s Senior Bowl, pointed out that what Flores has accomplished after losing two of the team’s top two cornerbacks in impressive.

https://twitter.com/JimNagy_SB/status/1836018512013254715

What he is doing is getting noticed by the NFL and the front offices of teams. Brian Flores had his chance as an NFL head coach, but many expect that he was given a less-than-fair chance at the job.

If he were to get another chance, and he likely will, odds are it would be to take a team’s defense over the top. He has done very well with the pieces the Vikings have despite missing key players.

It should be interesting to see how well the team looks against the Texans offense on Sunday.

Buccaneers GM Jason Licht credits HC Todd Bowles for roster transformation

Buccaneers GM Jason Licht shoveled some praise towards the team’s coaching staff and how they have developed the new-look roster.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went all in a few years ago with veteran players led by Tom Brady as they pursued a Super Bowl. They achieved that goal, saw some players and coaches ride off into the sunset, and had to press the reset button.

On Friday, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht praised the team’s coaching staff for developing the new-look roster.

Speaking with the team’s media, Licht acknowledged the role the coaching staff led by Todd Bowles has played in developing the team’s younger players.

“One thing [about] Todd [Bowles] and his coaches – they’re not afraid to play young guys and they love to develop young guys. That makes our job – my job – really easy, because we love young talent. We don’t love getting rid of older guys, that’s not the point. It’s [that] we want what’s best for the football team. . .we’re very happy with the way it’s worked, and now, we’re hoping to win this year, too.”

There are not many more healthy relationships in the NFL between a general manager and head coach than the one between Bowles and Licht in Tampa Bay. When a team has that sort of relationship, things are more fluid, and you see the results you can generate.

Both men now look toward the 2024 season, where they hope to build on a strong 2023 season that saw the team return to the playoffs.

Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles named to NFL Competition Committee

On Friday, they announced adding two new voices to the Competition Committee which strives to make the game better from every angle.

The NFL is constantly listening to voices in and around the league to make the league better. On Friday, they announced that they would be adding two new voices to the Competition Committee.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles and former Buccaneer and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Lynch will be added to the committee.

Bowles joins other head coaches on the committee, such as Mike Tomlin, Sean McDermott, and Sean McVay, who all add their voices to the league’s ear. Lynch is joined by Chris Grier, the only other general manager on the committee.

The point of the NFL Competition Committee is as follows from their site: “The Competition Committee’s actions are based, in part, on feedback from a variety of sources. At the end of each season, the 32 NFL clubs fill out a survey, answering questions about player protection, officiating, competitive balance, and technology.”

Bowles is heading into his third year as the Buccaneers head coach, Meanwhile, Lynch has parlayed his successful NFL playing career into one in the front office with the San Francisco 49ers.

Kevin O’Connell’s coaching history could explain patience with J.J. McCarthy

Kevin O’Connell has been in the NFL as a player and coach since 2008 but his greatest lessons have come through his coaching experiences.

Kevin O’Connell has been involved in the NFL as a player and coach since 2008, when the New England Patriots drafted him. His greatest lessons have come through his coaching experiences.

A piece by Kevin Seifert of ESPN profiled Kevin O’Connell, the coach, and how his stops in his career have shaped his decision-making. The biggest decision he has looming over him right now is when he starts rookie J.J. McCarthy. It is not the first time O’Connell has been around a rookie quarterback who was drafted high but wasn’t ready for the spotlight to start as an NFL quarterback.

“McCarthy’s moment might not come as soon as the Vikings hope. O’Connell, scarred by Washington’s botched development of late quarterback prospect Dwayne Haskins during his tenure there as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, laid out for ESPN his plan to ensure that McCarthy won’t have to play until he is ready.”

On the field, Haskins struggled immediately despite the emergence of fellow rookie and wide receiver Terry McLaurin around him. He also had Trent Williams on his offensive line, but he could never find his momentum.

McCarthy cannot afford to have McCarthy trusted into the spotlight before he is ready. This coaching staff and front office have all their chips in the center of the table for him. The patience O’Connell will show this year will be frustrating to fans, but the reward could be worth it.

Vikings make promotions within the training department and staff

The Minnesota Vikings announced on Friday of two people within their training department as the team continues to improve their treatment.

The Minnesota Vikings announced on Friday of two people within their training department as the team continues to improve their player treatment.

Matt Duhamel will be promoted to associate head athletic trainer and director of Rehabilitation, and Derik Keyes will be promoted to Director of Football Development and Assistant Performance Coach. This is all a part of new moves and promotions within the training department and coaching staff.

Duhamel is entering his 12th season with the team and has the support of the players on the roster, especially tackle Brian O’Neill.

“He’s the number one person who helped move the needle for me to have a successful and healthy season after the Achilles,” O’Neill said. “I spent every day with him from Jan. 1 through (Week 1 of the 2023 season). We spent a lot of time together, and I’m just super excited for him and his new opportunity.”

Keyes enters his ninth season with the Vikings and has just as much support from players. He has played a pivotal part in several players’ health and physical development, including fullback C.J. Ham.

“He’s been here through it all, and it speaks to the character he has, he’s proven himself to be loyal and trustworthy through all the change. . .”

It is easy to see why the team dealt with needs to promote them and keep them on staff with so much support across the roster.

Brian Flores to participate in NFL Coach Accelerator Program

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is scheduled to participate in the NFL’s second Coach Accelerator Program next week.

Next week in Nashville, the NFL’s Coach Accelerator Program will take place in Nashville, Tennessee. This program is an initiative aimed at getting more diversity into the head coaching ranks, giving current coordinators and — for the first time this year — college coaches a chance to get familiar with the people behind the scenes pulling the strings.

This year there will be 27 participants in the program, including Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores was left out of the coaching carousel this season after rebuilding the Vikings defense into one of the better units in the league.

This initiative pairs with the NFL’s Front Office Accelerator program, which was held in December in Dallas. One of the participants in last year’s inaugural program, Ran Carthon, was hired from the San Francisco 49ers player personnel department to be the Tennessee Titans new general manager.

Flores’ participation in the program comes just three years after spending a three-year stint with the Miami Dolphins as their former head coach. It also comes off the heels of Flores’ lawsuit against the Dolphins, Giants, and the league itself, alleging unfair hiring and firing practices.

Whether or not the program results in Flores getting another shot at a head coaching gig remains to be seen, but getting more opportunities in front of league-wide decision makers should ultimately be a net positive for the Vikings coordinator.