The Jacksonville Jaguars ended the Doug Pederson era this week, retaining controversial general manager Trent Baalke and hoping to find the next skipper within the next couple of weeks.
Yet Another Team Wants to Interview Brian Flores
And according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores will be in the mix to replace Pederson.
Schefter tweeted Wednesday, “The Jaguars have requested an interview with Brian Flores for their Head Coach vacancy.”
Flores is already on deck to chat with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets about their head coaching gigs, so Flores is a popular man after receiving no HC nibbles during the 2024 coaching carousel.
In Minnesota, the former Miami Dolphins skipper has turned around the purple defense in two years. The Vikings rank second in the NFL per EPA/Play on defense, widely known for efficiency and exotic blitz packages. In fact, Minnesota, alas, has offensive and defensive balance, arguably for the first time since the 2018 season.
Meanwhile, Flores acknowledged his interest in becoming a head coach again earlier this week. He even named-dropped the New England Patriots as a destination he’d prefer.
“I would say yes,” Flores replied to reporters when asked if he’d take an interview for New England’s top job. The Patriots somewhat unexpectedly fired first-year skipper Jerod Mayo on Monday, a former coworker of Flores’.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted about the exchange, “Brian Flores is gracefully taking a lot of questions about his head coach prospects. He said he will take every interview that is requested. Asked if he is interested in the Patriots job, he said: ‘I would say yes.’ But he added ‘it’s not up to me’ if they want to talk.”
Flores spent 15 seasons in New England as a coach and scout.
In theory, if Flores landed the Jaguars’ top job, he’d inherit Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, Travis Etienne at running back, and playmakers on defense like Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. It’s worth noting, however, that Jacksonville’s defense ranks 31st in the sport this season per the same EPA/Play metric. Flores would have some work to do.
Not long ago, Flores expressed an explicit desire to return as a head coach somewhere in the league. In short, he wants to be a head coach again. It just has to be the “right opportunity,” Flores told ESPN’s Adam Schefter in November.
Flores actually told Schefter he would love to head coach again. “Now, I may get some resistance from my kids, who are having a great time here in Minnesota. They’re having a fantastic time here just with school, and basketball, and football, and friendships and things like that. I think I’d get a little resistance, but for me personally, it’s something that I’d love to do again. With that said, Minnesota has been a great spot for me. My family, we’re really enjoying it,” Flores said two months ago.
Initial interviews with the Jaguars, Bears, and Jets will reportedly occur via video call. Flores and the Vikings play the Los Angeles Rams this Monday night, the first round of the postseason.
The Patriots, Flores’ preferred destination, have not requested an interview with Flores.
Flores led the Dolphins as head coach from 2019 to 2021 before a controversial split.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.