Brian Flores’ Offseason Saga Has Its Answer
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been one of the biggest storylines of Minnesota’s offseason. He was chasing head-coaching openings and there were plenty of those. Furthermore, Minnesota’s defensive architect interviewed for another defensive coordinator position, which he was allowed to do because his contract had briefly expired.
First, the Vikings handled the contract issue, reportedly offering him a Godfather deal. He agreed and signed the contract to return as the defensive coordinator in the Twin Cities with one caveat: If offered a promotion elsewhere, he would still depart.
Ultimately, he didn’t get any of those HC jobs. At this point, all 32 jobs are filled. On Sunday, reports surfaced suggesting that the Arizona Cardinals would hire Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, brother of Green Bay’s skipper. Rams head coach Sean McVay loses another staff member.
The Las Vegas Raiders, meanwhile, are expected to work out a deal with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. That contract cannot be finalized until after the Super Bowl. Kubiak worked for the Vikings between 2019 and 2021, first as the QB coach and in his final season as the offensive coordinator. He was not retained when the Vikings swapped Mike Zimmer for Kevin O’Connell. In Las Vegas, Kubiak is expected to get his hands on the potential first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.
About a month ago, Flores was rumored to be on Tom Brady’s shortlist of head coaching candidates, but that never got beyond the rumor stage. There’s no reported interview. In fact, Flores only interviewed for two HC vacancies, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens.
His return is good news for the Vikings. The numbers support that case; he was the driving force behind the 9–8 record, often masking the flaws of an abysmal offense.
In the three years under Flores, Minnesota has allowed just 19.2 points per game, ranking second in the NFL. The advanced numbers support his brilliance, as his group ranks near the top of the league in EPA/play and DVOA. This hasn’t just been a good defense. It’s been one of the league’s elite units for two consecutive seasons.
Beyond the numbers, Flores has changed the personality of the defense. Minnesota plays faster and more aggressively than it did before his arrival, leaning into disguised coverages, creative blitz packages, and constant pressure looks that force quarterbacks into mistakes. The unit rarely sits back. Instead, it dictates terms — something the Vikings had been missing for years. That identity has become one of the clearest strengths of the team.
Flores took over in 2023 after three straight seasons of underwhelming defensive performance. At first, the transition took time, as the personnel didn’t perfectly fit his system and the scheme required a steep learning curve.
In the 2024 offseason, the Vikings acquired Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman to strengthen the front, and it worked wonders. En route to a 14-3 record, his defense gave most quarterbacks fits in his second season with the Vikings.
Last year, with an additional focus on interior pass rush, his defense allowed only a single passing touchdown in the final eight games of the campaign.
With his return, there’s real hope that a few offensive improvements could turn the Vikings into a January contender behind a championship-caliber defense.
The roster should largely remain intact, aside from Harrison Smith’s expected retirement and the potential free-agent departure of linebacker Eric Wilson. On the other hand, the Vikings could acquire some reinforcements in free agency and the draft.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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