This past NFL offseason, Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, was a hot name in discussions surrounding head coaching vacancies with teams like the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite not securing any of these positions, his successful tenure in Minnesota positioned him as a notable candidate within league circles.
As the 2025 NFL regular season nears its conclusion, however, the chatter surrounding Flores as a potential head coach has diminished significantly. Although he could still receive interview opportunities and potentially find his way into a head coaching role for the first time since his dismissal from the Miami Dolphins in 2021, his absence from recent lists of candidates compiled by national insiders is telling.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently published his ranking of the top nine head coaching candidates based on feedback from agents and executives. His list features four coaches with prior head coaching experience: Vance Joseph (Broncos DC), Chris Shula (Rams DC), Jeff Hafley (Packers DC), and Matt Nagy (Chiefs OC), along with others like Joe Brady (Bills OC) and Robert Saleh (49ers DC). Notably, Flores was conspicuously missing from Graziano’s selections, mirroring a similar trend in another list compiled by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, which included eight other candidates but not Flores.
Contrastingly, Flores was included in a more exhaustive list by SI’s Conor Orr, which features 43 names, including Wes Phillips, the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. Despite the current dip in interest surrounding Flores’s candidacy, his defensive unit in Minnesota has continued to perform well, ranking in the top tiers for various defensive metrics this season, including eighth in points allowed per game and tied for 11th in sacks. His defensive philosophy has remained unique, marked by complexity and an aggressive approach.
Nonetheless, questions about Flores’s viability as a head coaching candidate persist. His ongoing lawsuit against the NFL continues to cast a shadow over his candidacy, and concerns linger regarding his handling of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the latter years of his Miami tenure.
Flores’s current contract with the Vikings as defensive coordinator is set to expire at the end of this season. If a head coaching opportunity doesn’t materialize, Minnesota would likely be eager to retain him for the 2026 season and beyond. The synergy between head coach Kevin O’Connell and Flores has proven effective, and with hopes for improved quarterback play next year, the Vikings could find themselves back in playoff contention within the competitive NFC landscape.
