Brian Flores is absolutely hot and heavy in the NFL's annual head coach carousel after leading the Minnesota Vikings to a Top 3 defensive ranking in back-to-back seasons. Theoretical landing spots for Flores are flying everywhere, and ESPN's Benjamin Solak has officially predicted that he will land with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Flores checks the boxes in Las Vegas for a quick reset candidate, and the Brady link gives the prediction more traction.
The Raiders have the Tom Brady connection for Flores in play, and perhaps Flores will be drawn to a team with a newly minted clean slate.
ESPN says Las Vegas for Flores.
Las Vegas Raiders helmets line the sideline during first-half action midway through Oct. 30, 2022, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the Raiders faced the New Orleans Saints. The silver-and-black equipment sat under the indoor lights while both teams worked through early-game sequences in the interconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew–USA TODAY Sports.
The Raiders Get the Nod for ESPN's Flores Prediction
With Flores theories flying all around, Solak level-set this week, predicting an eventual Raiders landing spot.
He wrote about the Raiders : "Big prediction for the offseason: If Carroll goes one-and-done, Brady will call an old New England friend to be head coach: current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores . He'll get a well-deserved second crack at a head coaching gig after getting fired by the Dolphins in 2022."
Carroll was fired soon after, fully putting Solak's prognostication into motion.
Relaxing His Criteria?
Flores has been deliberate about what he'll even consider in the head coaching ranks, and that narrows the field quickly in 2026 — or so it seemed. He hasn't been known to jump at every single job opening, instead proceeding judiciously in the last couple of seasons.
That approach lines up cleanly with the Baltimore Ravens , for example, not really Las Vegas. The Ravens don't burn through coaches. They commit and support, giving leadership room to work. That track record matters when you're carefully choosing your next move in Flores' case.
Adam Schefter noted back in November 2024 that Flores would leave Minnesota only for the " right opportunity ." That language was pretty telling. It quietly ruled out franchises defined by churn and short leashes. Las Vegas is the obvious example — an organization that seeks a new skipper almost annually.
If the ESPN scenario plays out, it suggests Flores sees Las Vegas as an exception rather than a compromise. That — or Tom Brady has a way with words.
SI.com 's Jonathan Harrison noted on the Flores-Brady connection this week, "After just one season in charge, Carroll has been let go by the Raiders. Leading the charge in finding a new head coach is NFL legend and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady."
"In looking for his next head coach, the former Patriots quarterback could turn to a former defensive coordinator from his time in New England. Flores' connections to the Raiders are there and it's not entirely out of the question. The Vikings defensive coordinator has more than earned a second shot at being a head coach in the league."
Per sportsbooks, Flores is the frontrunner to earn the Raiders' job, believe it or not.
Harrison added, "With Flores out of contract following the season, now seems like a perfect time for his departure if he does indeed get a second chance. If indeed the time is now for Flores, it would appear the best and most likely landing spot is in Las Vegas with a franchise that has a history of going against the league."
"If it happens, Flores could be helping lead the next-biggest decision the Raiders have to make in 2026, which is who to select with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft."
A Strong OC Will Be Needed
The Raiders have no quarterback of the future and probably need at least two top-tier wide receivers. The Geno Smith experiment flopped in 2025, and Aidan O'Connell profiles as a QB2 or QB3 for the long term. Las Vegas' best wide receiver is Tre Tucker , and a quick glance at game tape shows him as a WR3 on most NFL teams.
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the field before kickoff midway through Aug. 29, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, as Miami prepared to face the Bengals. Flores surveyed pregame activity while staff and players finalized warmups ahead of the late-summer exhibition contest. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana–USA TODAY Sports.
Conveniently, the Raiders own the first pick in the draft , prime territory to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be drafted first overall. But Flores isn't a quarterback whisperer. He does the opposite on Sunday, flustering them to the utmost as a defensive mastermind.
Therefore, if Flores joins the Raiders, he'll need an elite offensive coordinator and coaching staff, a group prepared to nurture a rookie passer and demonstrate the patience required during Mendoza's ups and downs.
Ravens, Falcons in the Mix, Too
The Ravens now have an opening after shockingly firing John Harbaugh, who had held the job for 18 seasons. Stylistically, Flores fits that organization to a tee. The word of Harbaugh's termination is just a day old, and Flores has not been expressly linked to the Ravens, but by the end of the week, an interview could be set.
The Atlanta Falcons are also intriguing because of the Matt Ryan angle. Ryan will have a role in the Falcons' decision-making, and he has collegiate ties to Flores.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores tracks the action from the sideline midway through Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during the NFC wild card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Flores managed adjustments and personnel groupings. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas–Imagn Images.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler tweeted Monday, "Matt Ryan is very close/former teammates with Bears GM Ryan Poles, which positions Ian Cunningham well in Atlanta. Also worth noting: Matt Ryan and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores were teammates for a year at Boston College. Flores was the starting linebacker, Ryan the scout-team quarterback, and they've kept in touch."
The Raiders have the NFL's fifth-worst win percentage in the last five years — 31-56 (.365).
