Kevin O’Connell is of two minds on Brian Flores. O’Connell wants to retain him because Flores is vital to the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive success. However, he also wants to support Flores if another team hires him as their head coach.
“We've been really aggressive, and Flo knows exactly how we feel about him,” O’Connell said at his end-of-the-season press conference. “But at the same time, [we] want to be really supportive. I'm really excited for him.”
O’Connell mentioned that another team had already asked to interview him for their head coach position, but did not specify which team. We later learned that the Baltimore Ravens interviewed Flores. The Ravens fired John Harbaugh after 18 seasons when they failed to make the playoffs this year.
No team interviewed Flores last year, despite Minnesota’s defensive success since it hired him in 2023. Flores was under contract at the time, so teams could only hire him if they promoted him to head coach. Still, many owners may have had qualms about Flores’ ongoing lawsuit against the NFL and three of its teams. They also may have had concerns about how he handled Tua Tagovailoa in Miami.
Flores coached the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021, compiling a 24-25 record. However, he led Miami to a 9-8 record in his final season, despite a 1-7 start. That year, Flores alleges that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 for each loss to tank the 2021 season and secure a higher draft pick.
Miami fired Flores after the 2021 season. He alleges in his lawsuit that the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans held sham interviews with him to satisfy the Rooney Rule.
Named after the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner, the Rooney Rule stipulates that owners interview at least one minority owner before hiring a head coach. In his lawsuit, Flores alleges that teams will host sham interviews with minority candidates to satisfy the league’s requirement.
Denver hired Sean Payton, who has led them to the AFC’s best record this year. Meanwhile, DeMeco Ryans won a playoff game in Pittsburgh last weekend with the Texans. However, the Giants fired Brian Daboll this year, and many think they should have hired Flores over Daboll in 2022.
However, Tua Tagovailoa’s comments on Dan Le Batard’s show in August 2024 may be equally as concerning to teams. Tagovailoa said Flores is a “terrible person” for the way he treated him after Miami drafted him fifth-overall in 2020.
“Look, I’m human,” Flores said in response. “That hit me in a way that I wouldn’t say was positive for me. But at the same time, I’ve got to use that and say, ‘Hey, how can I grow from that? How can I be better?’”
Flores’ players have supported him in Minnesota. However, defensive players may be more accepting of hard coaching. Confidence is crucial for all players, but especially quarterbacks. Therefore, teams may have qualms about hiring Flores to coach their franchise signal-callers.
Lamar Jackson’s relationship reportedly soured with John Harbaugh in Baltimore, which may be part of why the Ravens moved on from their long-time head coach. Would they risk hiring Flores, only to have Jackson later resent Flores for how he coaches him?
Flores is best suited for a team with strong ownership and without a franchise quarterback. Any owner is taking a risk by hiring a coach who’s suing the league, and many will have reservations about how he coaches an incumbent quarterback.
Therefore, is there any better fit than Pittsburgh?
The Steelers hired Flores as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach after the Dolphins fired him. He speaks highly of his time working under Mike Tomlin, who stepped down as Pittsburgh’s coach on Tuesday. The league also named the Rooney Rule after the family that owns the Steelers.
Furthermore, Aaron Rodgers may retire after this season. Flores can maintain a defense that keeps the Steelers in games while they find their next quarterback, then have a say in who they draft. He’d likely push for a quarterback who can handle harsher coaching, which he can evaluate in the interview process.
Perhaps the Steelers pass on Flores. Maybe Baltimore or another team hires him. Ultimately, the Vikings must prepare for life without him. Flores’ defense has become Minnesota’s identity as they transition to J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback, and they could become lost without him.
Baltimore’s decision to interview Flores made his departure a real possibility. Tomlin stepping down in Pittsburgh only reinforces that notion. The Vikings have to have projected what life looks like without Flores. Much of their success next season hinges on whether he steps through to the other side.
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