One of the best things to happen, or not happen, last offseason was Brian Flores not receiving a head coaching offer. The Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator has been a significant difference maker for Kevin O’Connell.
Hiring him is complicated given the pending lawsuit against the league. That said, it’s impossible for owners to overlook just how talented of a coach he is. With new perspective since his time with the Miami Dolphins, it’s possible this is the cycle where he gets another shot.
Brian Flores could stay in the Minnesota Vikings division
There is no division in football that is better than the NFC North this season. Minnesota and Detroit both have 13 wins while the Green Bay Packers have 11. That leaves just the Chicago Bears in the doldrums, and they will be seeking new leadership this offseason. Insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport believe Flores may fit the bill.
“But the Bears aren’t locked in on anything yet. They want someone who embodies the city of Chicago at a critical time for the franchise to set itself up for years to come. Other names to watch include: Mike Vrabel, Vikings DC Brian Flores and Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, among many others.”
Brian Flores linked to Chicago Bears (NFL.com)
The Flores tie to Chicago isn’t new. It would be disappointing to lose such a strong coordinator, and an additional gut punch for the new team to be a division rival.
Chicago drafted quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has had a shaky season but plays behind an offensive line that has had him take 67 sacks. Williams is to blame for plenty of those results. A new head coach has to shore up both sides of the ball.
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Flores needs to make sure that his next destination is mutually beneficial. While there are only 32 head coaching jobs in the NFL, it doesn’t make sense for him to land in an unstable situation. Flores has a good thing going with the Vikings, and will ultimately have additional opportunities present themselves.
Teams will have interest in elevating Flores’ status. He should be taking the opportunity to interview them as well. The past two seasons with Minnesota have shown him what strong leadership and ideal infrastructure looks like. It’s something that he should want to bring with him wherever he goes.
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At some point it seems likely that O’Connell will need to replace one of his closest confidants. Hopefully that doesn’t come at the hands of an NFC North team poaching him.
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