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Monday Brought the Best Kind of Brian Flores Update
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- Monday Brought the Best Kind of Brian Flores Update
Jamie Sabau
For a week and change, Minnesota Vikings fans have wondered if Brian Flores will return to his defensive coordinator job in the Twin Cities or head back to the head coaching ranks. Speculation has run rampant that Flores might take the HC plunge with a new team, but reports Monday indicated that he would return to Minnesota if he once again strikes out in the annual carousel .
One Monday update didn't end the chatter, but it offered the clearest indication yet that Flores might prefer continuity in Minnesota if he strikes out in his search for an HC gig.
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Courtesy of Pro Football Talk 's Mike Florio, Flores is closer to returning with the Vikings than most assumed a few days ago.
What Florio Said about Flores and Why It Matters
Flores, indeed, may be back for Year No. 4.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline during first-half action at SoFi Stadium, Oct 24, 2024, in Inglewood. The scene captured Flores tracking personnel and coverage adjustments as Minnesota faced the Rams, with defensive communication active amid early-game tempo and shifting offensive looks under the indoor lights. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Florio on Flores
With Flores' decision to stay or leave gripping the Vikings' early offseason, Florio stepped up to the plate Monday with an update.
He wrote about Flores , "He has completed his work in Minnesota, but assistant-coaching contracts typically don't expire until the Super Bowl. Still, he's essentially a free agent at this point, needing only to bide his time until he's free to leave."
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"As we understand it, the Vikings remain confident Flores will be back, unless he lands a head-coaching job. Of the eight openings, Flores has publicly emerged as a potential candidate, so far, only with the Ravens . It's possible, frankly, that the Vikings have a tentative deal with Flores, but that a decision has been made to not put pen to paper until he has exhausted all head-coaching possibilities."
While most Vikings fans have assumed that Flores would want to return if he had no luck with head coach interviews, Florio's update was the first tangible bit of evidence and confirmation so far this offseason.
Florio added, "Shortly before the Raiders fired coach Pete Carroll, a rumor was making the rounds of a potential Patriot Way reunion in Las Vegas , with former New England quarterback/current Raiders minority owner and significant influence Tom Brady hiring Flores, a former Patriots defensive coordinator, to be the coach, with Brian Daboll, who had multiple stints with the Patriots, as offensive coordinator."
"Flores's candidacy as a head coach with any team is complicated by his pending lawsuit against the NFL and four franchises — the Dolphins, Giants, Broncos , and Texans . Legally, the fact that he has pursued a claim of racial discrimination against the league cannot be used against him. As a practical matter, teams exercise plenty of discretion when it comes to hiring head coaches, and the supply of objectively qualified candidates outweighs the demand."
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Just One Interview to Date
While Flores' name has been hot and heavy around the league for possible head coach opportunities, just one team to date has ponied up an interview. Flores will chat with the Ravens this week after Baltimore stunningly terminated John Harbaugh's contract .
Flores has been connected to a few teams, mainly because the Las Vegas Raiders because of his connection to Tom Brady from the New England Patriots days, but for now, the Ravens are the only team on his interview schedule.
One must wonder: if Flores is so coveted, when will more than one team interview him?
The Raiders' Frontrunner
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According to sportsbooks, Flores is the frontrunner to grab the Raiders' vacant job. Las Vegas fired Pete Carroll last week after one season and will need a new coach as early as now.
Oddsmakers trust Brady to roll out his best recruiting spiel for Flores, even if the aforementioned interview has not been scheduled.
NFL writer Austin Boyd noted on Monday , "Even with the lack of an interview request, DraftKings has Flores as the early favorite to be the next Raiders head coach at +175. Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is second on the list at +800."
"Flores wouldn't be a controversial choice because he's not qualified. He previously had success as the Miami Dolphins head coach and is clearly one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. What makes him a controversial choice is how things ended in Miami and the fact that he's currently suing the NFL for alleged discrimination."
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline before kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, Sep 2021, in Miami Gardens. The pregame moment reflected Flores' leadership presence as Miami prepared to face New England, with final checks underway and staff coordination setting tone ahead of a divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Bill Ingram / The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK
Meanwhile, the Raiders have no long-term plan at quarterback entering the offseason , so hiring Flores might be a strange fit. Flores is not known for quarterback development, and in fact, his last QB1 in Miami, Tua Tagovailoa , called him a "terrible person" a couple of years ago.
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Flores is known for his defenses terrorizing quarterbacks, not empowering them.
Lateral Move Theories
The rumor mill also hasn't been shy about connecting Flores to other defensive coordinator jobs around the NFL. In contract-speak, he'll be a free agent, and sites like Pro Football Talk and The Athletic have wondered aloud if Jerry Jones could lure Flores to Dallas as its defensive coordinator with a head coach's salary.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores surveys the field before kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium, Dec 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. The pregame view framed a unit reshaped by pressure and discipline, as Flores oversaw final alignments while Minnesota prepared for Green Bay with a defense carrying renewed identity and confidence. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Getty Images
Of course, Flores moving around the league laterally doesn't make much sense.
In all likelihood, Flores will either get the Ravens or Raiders head coach job — or return to Minnesota.
