Brian Flores Weighs in on 2024 HC Speculation
Brian Flores is keenly aware of your head coaching theories involving his potential 2024 employment.
But he’s not fixated on anything about 2024 at the moment.
Brian Flores Weighs in on 2024 HC Speculation
The Vikings’ defensive coordinator has provided a masterclass in 2023, turning the team’s defense around from a 24th ranking per DVOA in 2022 to eighth in 2023. That’s a thunderous change, and it happened in one offseason with a fresh leader and a few new players.
Accordingly, Flores could become a hot commodity as early as next month when the NFL kicks off its annual coaching carousel. The 42-year-old head coached the Miami Dolphins for three seasons between 2019 and 2021 before a bizarre dismissal after the 2021 campaign.
Now, because Flores has rectified Minnesota’s defense with the snap of two fingers — and because he absolutely deserves another HC gig — the man could take the big job somewhere in about two months.
At the moment, however, he doesn’t care about those opportunities. “My message to our guys yesterday was we’ve got 35 guaranteed days. That’s all we got that’s guaranteed. I asked them to put everything into these 35 days,” Flores told reporters on Wednesday when asked about his 2024 plans.
The Vikings are 6-6 entering Week 14 and have around a 40%-45% chance of reaching the postseason.
“I can’t give that message and not heed that message. My focus is on these guys, this team, these next five games because that’s all we really have. I understand the question, but that’s where my focus is,” Flores added.
The New England Patriots may move on from Bill Belichick soon, and Flores spent 15 years in New England. It wouldn’t be weird one bit if he became the Patriots’ next skipper.
Flores continued, “All the other stuff, I asked them to block it out, and I’m blocking it out myself because I think you got to lead by example. I know that that’s out there. I’m not blind to any of that.”
“But I’m really focused on the task at hand. Like I said, my message to those guys was: We got five weeks. Let’s put everything into these five weeks and not come out of it with any regrets and saying, ‘Hey, my focus is on this, so it wasn’t on you guys,'” Flores added. “I think these guys work too hard. They’ve put a lot into the season already. I understand the question, but that is really not where I’m at right now.”
Therefore, the coaching carousel speculation won’t stop — it never does at this time on the calendar — but until the Vikings are eliminated, Flores isn’t interested in the smoke.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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