Vikings DC Brian Flores Ruled Out for One Possible NFL Head Coaching Job; Other Interesting Fits Floated

At 10-2 this season, Minnesota’s greatest asset may very well be their coaching staff.. Kevin O’Connell has turned Sam Darnold into a legitimate QB1. Brian Flores has the defense playing at a level we haven’t seen in some time. The former isn’t going anywhere, but the latter certainly would love another crack at a head coaching job.

Minnesota Vikings losing Brian Flores could sting in more ways than one

It seemed plausible that last season would be the only one in which Brian Flores operated as the Vikings defensive coordinator. He gave Minnesota’s defense a breath of fresh air and infused the unit with new perspective.

This season has been yet another step forward. His head coaching pursuits remain complicated, however. He is still suing the league after all. His prospects became a talking point for Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano this week.

“I’m fascinated with Brian Flores. He has turned Minnesota’s defense into a force, his players support him and he has taken steps behind the scenes so that he’s ready for his second chance (the NFL was very impressed in Flores’ leadership in helping younger coaches during last offseason’s accelerator program, for example). But his discrimination lawsuit against the NFL can’t exactly be dropped as far as I know (he’s not the only plaintiff on the class-action suit). And whether fair or not, Tua Tagovailoa‘s bashing of Flores is still fresh in peoples’ minds.”

Jeremy Folwer on Brian Flores (ESPN)

Fowler doesn’t present any specific landing spots for Flores. Graziano is ready to rule out at least one potential fit. New York isn’t currently an opening with Brian Daboll remaining in place, but that doesn’t mean it will stay that way when the end of the season comes around.

“It’s tough to say with Flores, because of that lawsuit. I know the Giants liked him a lot when they hired Brian Daboll three years ago, but the extent to which the Giants’ process was implicated in the lawsuit rubbed that organization the wrong way, so I wonder whether those fences could be mended. Would the Jets take a look at Flores, since a stronger hand might appeal to ownership? Would he appeal to the Bears, who’d be weakening a division rival if he could sell them on his ability to bring in the right offensive coordinator for Williams? I think Flores is a good and interesting candidate on several levels, but you’re right. The questions surrounding him are very specific and could be tough obstacles for him to overcome in this cycle.”

Dan Graziano on Brian Flores (ESPN)

The real talker here is the idea of Chicago poaching a key coach from the Vikings. Minnesota just knocked off their division rival at Soldier Field, and Matt Eberflus got the axe after a horrible showing on Thanksgiving.

Flores might not be the offensive mind that would unlock Caleb Williams, but he could strengthen a serviceable defense and knows the division well.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign New Cornerback to Practice Squad

A fit with the Jets is interesting. The organization will see a sizable amount of turnover this offseason. It’s virtually impossible to see Aaron Rodgers returning, and someone to command the locker room will be needed. Flores could bring his personality and style into that situation.

He’d be going back to an AFC East division he last coached in with the Miami Dolphins, and experienced with the New England Patriots.

Minnesota is currently middle of the pack in yards allowed per game. The lead the league in stopping the run though, and passing production is largely a reflection of teams needing to come back against them. Their 18.3 points per game allowed is fifth lowest in the NFL.

Related: Vikings DC Brian Flores Confirms: He Wants to be a Head Coach Again

It’s hard to have put a better foot forward coming off Ed Donatell than Brian Flores has done. He has always been well-regarded as a defensive mind, and the continued production will only work in his favor towards a promotion. The idea of suing your boss isn’t great, but winning could be too hard to ignore.