The Minnesota Vikings didn’t wait long to begin their defensive coordinator search. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Vikings have requested to interview Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach/linebacker coach Brian Flores for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Flores is most well-known for his time in New England serving under head coach Bill Belichick. He never officially held the title of defensive coordinator but it was accepted that he was without the title.
He then spent three seasons as the Miami Dolphins head coach where he compiled a 24-25 record and was unceremoniously fired after the 2022 season. He went on to sue the NFL for their hiring and firing practices of minority coaches.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell and Flores were together with the Patriots for one season in 2008 which is where the connection began. It makes sense for O’Connell to want to interview Flores from both that standpoint and wanting to keep a 3-4 base personnel scheme. What is interesting is what Flores runs in comparison to the Vic Fangio-scheme that Ed Donatell used.
Flores runs most of his coverage out of a cover-1 base, meaning a single high safety over the top. That is a very appealing system for cornerbacks that thrive in man coverage, something the Vikings did decently well when asked to do so this season.
We don’t know whether Flores is the top candidate, but he is an excellent coach with a good track record of having quality defenses.
The #Vikings have requested permission to speak with #Steelers senior defensive assistant and LBs coach Brian Flores for their newly vacant DC job, source said. Coach Kevin O’Connell and Flores overlapped in New England for a year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2023