The Spicy Theory That Won’t Go Away for Brian Flores
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was reared by “The Patriot Way” in New England for 10 years in an organization led by Bill Belichick. Now, Flores’ reputation, mainly in the past, as a “dictator,” may be getting in the way of his aspirations to be a head coach.
The Ryan Fitzpatrick angle and old Miami whispers still follow Flores, possibly a peek behind the curtain regarding his current quest to be a head coach.
Former NFLer Ryan Fitzpatrick, who worked under Flores in Miami, spilled the beans a while back, claiming Flores’ dictatorial reputation of the past may turn off some NFL teams.
The “Dictator” Reputation Keeps Hovering Over Flores
Flores’ hard-as-nails persona may be a hindrance.
Fitzpatrick on Flores
Fitzpatrick spent the 2019 and 2020 campaigns on the Dolphins’ roster, Flores’ first two years in charge.
He said on his podcast last year about Flores, “I think the interesting thing with Brian Flores, when I think about him and being able to play under him for a few years, is which version of Brian Flores are we getting. I think the further removed we get from his tenure in Miami, the more people kind of forget about how that ended, and the better his name becomes.”
“He was likable, he was relatable, he demanded a lot out of the players, but he was also able to get the best version of his players, and I really appreciated him for that.”
Then Fitzpatrick delivered the punchline: “But as his tenure went on in Miami, he kind of became unrecognizable. I think by the end of his time there, he became a dictator. He ruined a lot of those relationships that he built up through the NFL. And his ego grew so big that there wasn’t any room for anyone else.”
To date, Flores has just one interview request — from the Baltimore Ravens — whereas other candidates have multiple. If Fitzpatrick is on to something, perhaps Flores’ “dictator” reputation is to blame for so little interest so far this coaching cycle.
This Style Was a Mandated in New England
A dictatorial attitude was all but required in New England. And it was revered by the masses because Belichick and Tom Brady stacked six championships in two decades.
For example, Belichick ran such a tight ship that onlookers were surprised by Brady’s demeanor when he eventually left New England for Tampa Bay. Upon joining the Buccaneers, Brady became more accessible, likable, downright funny at times, and just seemed like a new man.
Belichick demanded that the Patriots’ interworkings stay behind closed doors, and that’s all Flores knew until he departed in 2019 to lead the Dolphins.
A Softer Side in Minnesota?
Meanwhile, Flores appears to have softened in Minnesota — for the better. He is still known as an aggressive tough guy, especially through his playcalling, but he might be a bit different than in his Patriots days.
For example, in the summer of 2024, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa referenced Flores’ leadership style on a podcast and, out of nowhere, called his former head coach a “terrible person.”
Reporters asked Flores to comment soon after, and he said about the accusation, “I just want to say, look, I’m genuinely happy, genuinely happy for the success that Tua’s had, and I really wish him nothing but the best. I think player relationships are very important to me. I think that’s kind of the foundation of coaching.”
“I got into coaching because I was impacted as a young guy by my high school coaches, my college coaches, going all the way to Pop Warner. I got into coaching because I wanted to make that same kind of impact — positive impact — pour into young people, help them become the best versions of themselves. That’s really my goal always in coaching. So, I wish nothing but the best to Tua.”
That, of course, is not the response of a prickly dictator. It’s the opposite, in fact.
NFL Owners Will Soon Provide a Verdict
Thankfully for Flores’ sake, he will get a verdict on the league’s opinion of him in the next few weeks. He’s in line to interview with general manager Eric DeCosta in Baltimore, and other discussions could follow with the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, for example.
In 2025, Flores had no head coaching luck after interviewing with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s unclear if his “dictator” reputation held him back or if NFL owners are still skittish about Flores’ pending lawsuit against the league for unfair hiring practices.
But within the next month, Flores will learn if his rigid reputation persists, or if a franchise like the Ravens is willing to give him another shot. The stop in Miami did not end well for anybody.
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