Kevin O’Connell Cannot Comprehend Why Other Teams Don’t Want Brian Flores

Brian Flores has been the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings for one of Kevin O’Connell’s two seasons as the team’s head coach. Had he been here from the start, who knows how far the 2022 Vikings would have gone.

The biggest thing that held that 2022 squad back from a deep playoff run was one of the worst defenses in franchise history… lead by then DC Ed Donatell. That season, the Vikings gave up the 2nd most yards, 5th most points and 3rd most passing yards in the NFL.

Our Minnesota Vikings have had some brutal defenses over the years, but under Donatell, the TV wasn’t even worth watching when the other team had the football. But that all changed when Ed was fired last offseason, and replaced by former Miami Dolphins head coach, Brian Flores.

Brian Flores completely transformed Minnesota Vikings defense immediately

Bringing Flo in was a classic “do the opposite” hire by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The change was noticeable and immediate. Suddenly, the Vikings defense went from looking like underslept adults who had been locked in their cubicles for weeks, to ADHD 9-year-olds who have been refusing medication.

The Vikings' defense DOMINATED the Bears' screen-heavy gameplan on Monday night.

Of the 15 screens the Bears ran, they were only successful on 5 of them. Here are all the stops from the Vikings' defense: pic.twitter.com/qTQGnw6hmf

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) December 1, 2023

Sure, the Vikings had a difficult 2023 season, as a team, and it ended short of the NFL playoffs. Nonetheless, our eyes and last year’s statistics both confirm that defense was far from Minnesota’s biggest problem.

With nearly the exact same personnel, the Minnesota Vikings defense was suddenly exciting and completely unpredictable. Oh, and much more effective. In just one season, the defense improved in every category, jumping 15 spots in both points and yards allowed. It was a night/day difference.

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Minnesota’s defensive turnaround, along with Flores’ previous experience as a head coach, should have made him a prime candidate for head coaching jobs this offseason. But he was never seriously considered for any of the positions available. In fact, he never even got an interview.

Kevin O’Connell shocked teams aren’t fighting with each other to hire Brian Flores

And Kevin O’Connell cannot wrap his mind around why. He told KFAN Radio on Friday that he was absolutely shocked when other NFL teams “weren’t knocking down the door” at TCO Performance Center earlier this spring/summer, to try and hire Brian Flores away from Minnesota.

“So glad to have [Brian Flores] back. Umm, it’s really shocking to me that there weren’t teams knocking down the door to come try and hire Flo. He’s meant a ton to me… among a lot of other really great coaches we have on our staff. I think our players feel it and I’m excited for where we are going to take this thing.”

Brian Flores was run out of Miami by an organization that was not aligned with his vision, which was winning. After his firing, Flores sued the NFL and multiple teams for prejudice hiring practices, based on skin color.

Why doesn’t anyone want Flores as their head coach?

In the lawsuit, he alleged that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 for every game that the team lost. Obviously, the alleged goal was to tank for better draft position.

It’s also that same lawsuit which has seemingly made it impossible for Brian Flores to land a nother head coaching job in the NFL. It’s believed to be the biggest reason why he hasn’t even been mentioned for openings, the last two years.

Related: Blake Cashman is Gushing Over New Vikings Teammate, JJ McCarthy

I do not condone any type of prejudice hiring process, unless your only prejudice is finding the best person for a job. But much like O’Connell, I am sure glad Brian Flores is still in Minnesota.

Not only couldn’t the Vikings defense stop anyone, under Donatell, but his scheme was the most bland, generic, do-nothing brand of football. It called for very little, if any, pre-snap movement and blitzes that were few and far between. In other words, it was as brutal on the eyes as it was on the stat sheet.

Nobody is more thankful for Brian Flores than head coach Kevin O’Connell. And for good reason. Not only does KOC no longer have to stress out about how terrible the Vikings defense is going to be week-in and week-out, but Flo essentially gives the Vikings a 2nd elite head coach for one team.