Maybe it’s fitting that the man whose defense is predicated on keeping everybody guessing wouldn’t tip his hand about the potential next step in his career.
Asked a number of different questions about his future on Tuesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center, defensive coordinator Brian Flores was intent on keeping his cards as close to the vest as humanly possible.
It appeared his goal was to avoid making any headlines. Mission accomplished.
“I really would like to put the focus on the players,” Flores said. “It’s never about me and my personal situation.”
This has become a topic of discussions largely because Flores won’t be under contract with the Vikings after this season. That means he could theoretically shop around as a free agent looking for a new destination.
Though he would certainly jump at the opportunity to become a head coach in the NFL once again, he has recently been connected to rumors about potential lateral moves, where he becomes a defensive coordinator for another team.
Asked about the possibility of Flores being a defensive coordinator elsewhere, head coach Kevin O’Connell expressed his adoration for the working relationship the two coaches have built, while emphasizing that the Vikings already have had some very good dialogue about keeping Flores around long term.
“We are in a really positive place,” O’Connell said. “I absolutely want Brian Flores to be the defensive coordinator of the Vikings as long as we can have him.”
In that same breath, O’Connell acknowledged Flores should be a prime candidate to become a head coach, especially considering the way the Vikings have performed on defense for much of this season.
As of right now, the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans will be in the market for a head coach, and there are sure to be more vacancies once this season comes to an end.
“He has earned everything,” O’Connell said. “That doesn’t take away from the route we want to go to make sure he’s our defensive coordinator here for the foreseeable future.”
Since being hired by the Vikings to replace former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, Flores has steadily rebuilt his image, becoming synonymous with a defensive scheme that presents exotic looks before and after the snap.
The Vikings’ defensive dominance in a 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions on Christmas helped Flores further bolster his résumé on a national stage.
The game plan Flores put together was brilliant in making life miserable on veteran quarterback Jared Goff. There was seemingly constant pressure in Goff’s face every time he dropped back to pass as the Vikings forced the Lions into a half dozen turnovers.
“It was one of the more inspired performances I’ve ever seen,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “Those guys played out of their minds.”
It remains to be seen if Flores has done enough to earn himself a job as a head coach. He will have a chance to leave a lasting impression Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers in the finale.
That’s where Flores is channeling all of his attention at the moment. He’s not letting himself think about his future.
“The players are everything to me,” Flores said. “It would be a disservice to them to be thinking about my personal situation when we’ve got a big game coming up.”
As soon as the final seconds tick off the clock, however, he will no longer be able to deflect. It will then be on Flores to decide whether he wants to stay with the Vikings, or see if the grass is greener on the other side.
“Look, I’ve said this many times, I’ve loved my time here in Minnesota,” Flores said. “Now we’ll kind of let the club and my representation handle the rest.”
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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