ESPN Floats the NFL’s Gravest Sin for Brian Flores

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ESPN Floats the NFL’s Gravest Sin for Brian Flores

ESPN Floats the NFL's Gravest Sin for Brian Flores — Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches players run drills during the team's organized team activities at the Vikings Training Facility on June 10, 2025, in Minneapolis. Flores has guided a sharp defensive resurgence in Minnesota, drawing league-wide attention while collaborating closely with a veteran-led roster during a crucial offseason stretch for the franchise. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn–Imagn Images.

Dustin Baker · Vikings Territory

Wed, Jan 21, 2026 ·

5 min read

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Just when you thought you'd heard it all regarding Brian Flores during the current NFL coaching carousel, ESPN came along this week and suggested the unthinkable: Flores to the Green Bay Packers as a replacement for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

The Vikings' defensive rebound since 2023 made Flores a hot name; ESPN's mention of Green Bay is the nightmare scenario.

The Miami Dolphins hired Hafley as their next skipper this week, and according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, Flroes could now be in play for Hafley's job in Wisconsin.

Demovsky's Flores-to-GB Theory Turns Heads

Vikings fans would cringe, rest assured.

Green Bay Packers helmets lined up on the sideline at Lambeau Field — Green Bay Packers helmets sit along the sideline at Lambeau Field as pregame preparations unfold, reflecting the franchise's long-standing identity and attention to detail. The equipment was photographed on August 19, 2022 during a preseason matchup in Green Bay, capturing a quiet moment before kickoff in a stadium known for its layered history. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch–Imagn Images

Demovsky: Flores to Packers Could Be Real

With Hafley now in Miami, Green Bay is shopping for a defensive coordinator.

Demovsky wrote , "According to reports, LaFleur has already contacted Eagles' defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker (per Jordan Schultz of the Schultz Report) and Vikings defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Daronte Jones (per NFL Network)."

"LaFleur also could try to lure Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores from Minnesota. Flores is not under contract for 2026 and has interviewed for head coaching jobs and at least one other defensive coordinator opening. Flores was one of the frontrunners to become the Packers' head coach in 2019, a source said, before LaFleur got the job."

Raheem Morris, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons , is probably the frontrunner to win the GB job because of his past employment connection to LaFleur, but Flores is in the mix, says Demovsky.

A … Lateral Move to the … Vikings Main Rival?

This isn't the first time Flores has been linked to an NFC team this offseason as a defensive coordinator. In the last few weeks, the Dallas Cowboys kickstarted the Flores DC rumor mill, while the Washington Commanders actually interviewed him.

Now, it's evidently the Packers who want to chat.

The question remains the same: Why would Flores take the same job with a different team? He's in the conversation to land head coaching gigs in Baltimore and Pittsburgh , and those job applications make sense — they're promotions.

Unless Flores has soured on somebody inside the Vikings' leadership tree, leaving Minnesota laterally just doesn't add up. It's also worth noting that head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have spoken glowingly of Flores, so if there's undercover beef somewhere, everyone is hiding it quite well.

SI.com 's Joe Nelson on the Packers' DC search and Flores' coaching prospects: "The biggest question the Packers have entering next season is the health of edge rusher Micah Parsons , who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on December 14. He underwent surgery on December 30, and he's expected to miss the beginning of the 2026-27 regular season."

"All of that aside, losing Daronte Jones before knowing what Flores will decide is a major risk that could end with Minnesota having to replace both of them on the defensive coaching staff. Flores has a second interview with Pittsburgh for their head coaching job on Tuesday, in addition to having interviewed for the Ravens ' head coaching job and the Washington Commanders' defensive coordinator position."

Minnesota's defense would basically start from scratch if Flores and Jones vamoosed.

"If the Vikings hope to keep Flores, they might have their fingers crossed that Mike McCarthy , the former Cowboys and Packers head coach, gets the job in Pittsburgh," Nelson added.

Extreme Bad Blood All Around if So

On the other hand, if Demovsky has it right, and Flores eventually takes the plunge as the Packers' defensive coordinator, that will take the cake for fan-driven resentment.

Brian Flores on the sideline during Vikings playoff game at State Farm Stadium. Brian Flores coaching rumors. — Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores stands along the sideline at State Farm Stadium, tracking the action as Minnesota faces Los Angeles in a high-stakes postseason setting. The scene was recorded on January 13, 2025 in Glendale, highlighting Flores' focused presence during an NFC wild card matchup defined by pressure and constant adjustments. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas–Imagn Images.

Remember when Brett Favre joined the Vikings in 2009 after spending 15 years in Green Bay? Flores, in theory, taking the Green Bay job won't quite approach that venom, but it also wouldn't be terribly far from the feeling from a fan's standpoint.

Last year, Detroit Lions fans raged when Ben Johnson left for the Chicago Bears . Expect a similar fan backlash if Flores crosses Interstate 94 to lead the Packers' defense.

The Realistic Scenario

While the Flores flirtation is fun for Packers fans to ponder, two realistic outcomes await Flores in 2026. First, the Steelers could hire him as their next skipper. Pittsburgh's search seems to have narrowed to two or three contenders, with Chris Shula and Flores leading the pack.

Matt LaFleur showing referees during Packers game at Lambeau Field — Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur gestures toward officials near the sideline at Lambeau Field while game action continues, underscoring the intensity of an NFC North rivalry. The moment occurred on December 12, 2021 as Green Bay hosted Chicago, with emotions running high throughout a decisive home victory. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Second, if Flores strikes out in Pittsburgh, he'll likely return to the Vikings. O'Connell has said for a couple of weeks that he's confident Flores would return if there is no promotion, and O'Connell doesn't usually talk out of the side of his mouth.

Otherwise, if Demvosky is on to something with Flores to Green Bay, the Vikings-Packers rivalry will change drastically in the next few years, making it even more heated.

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