Commanders Want a Piece of One Vikings Coach
The options are expanding for Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The Washington Commanders expressed a desire to interview the 44-year-old on Tuesday, possibly on tap to lead Dan Quinn’s defense in 2026 and beyond.
The Commanders make sense for Flores from the Commanders’ perspective, but Minnesota’s defense has Flores’ fingerprints all over it, and replacing him wouldn’t be easy.
Nobody quite knows why Flores would leave the Vikings for a different defensive coordinator job, but Washington evidently believes it’s an option.
Washington Joins the Line for Flores
The Commanders attempt to pilfer Flores.
The WAS Request
Add one to the list for Flores. NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper wrote Tuesday, “PFT reported on Monday that the Vikings are confident Brian Flores will be back as the team’s defensive coordinator if he does not land a head coaching job, but that apparently isn’t stopping at least one other club from seeing if Flores is interested in running their defense.”
“Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Commanders want to interview Flores for that position on Dan Quinn’s coaching staff. Flores just wrapped up his third season as the coordinator in Minnesota. Flores is expected to interview with the Ravens for their head coaching vacancy this week. There has not been any other word of head coaching interest so far this cycle.”
In addition to monitoring vacant head coach jobs for Flores, which include the Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Las Vegas Raiders, Vikings fans must now keep a close eye on the Commanders.
The Numbers from Commanders’ Recent Defenses
In theory, if Washington interviews Flores and hires him, he’d inherit this defense by the numbers as of late:
Commanders Defense
per DVOA:
2025: 28th
2024: 23rd
2023: 31st
2022: 10th
2021: 27th
2020: 4th
In 2022, the Vikings’ defense ranked 24th per the same metric, and after one year of Flores’ stewardship, the group checked in at No. 11. During the last two seasons, Flores’ defense has ranked in the Top 3 per DVOA on both occasions.
If Flores took the Washington job, good things would be on the way for the Commanders’ defense.
Riggo’s Rag‘s Dean Jones noted on Flores request by Washington, “Excitement went to stratospheric levels among the Washington Commanders’ fans when a report surfaced about head coach Dan Quinn’s desire to speak with Brian Flores about their vacant defensive coordinator position.”
“It might come to nothing, but it’s a sign that the franchise is willing to swing for the fences in its quest to find the right guy. This was imperative if Quinn wanted to avoid questions about his own future next time around. Flores is gaining head-coaching interest from around the league.”
The Commanders reached the NFC Championship in 2024 and missed the postseason altogether in 2025.
“The Minnesota Vikings also want him back, but his contract has expired. If something cannot be worked out, several others will be looking to secure his services. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Commanders can get an interview with Flores,” Jones added.
“The chances seem unlikely, so Josh Harris needs to cut a massive check, and Quinn needs to give him a large say in defensive personnel during a pivotal offseason for the club.”
Flores Interviewed with Ravens on Tuesday
Last week, news broke that Flores would interview with the Ravens after that franchise cut ties with John Harbaugh.
Well, that discussion went down on Tuesday. Ravens reporter Justin Robertson wrote Tuesday, “The Ravens have completed an interview with Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores for their head coach opening.”
“He is an elite defensive mind. In his three seasons with the Vikings, Flores has orchestrated some of the top defenses in the league, predicated on disguised rushes and coverages. Minnesota allowed the third-fewest yards per game (282.6) this season and had a six-game stretch where it didn’t allow a passing touchdown, the first time a defense did that since 1988.”
So far this coaching carousel cycle, these events have followed Flores:
- Alleged interest from the Dallas Cowboys for its defensive coordinator post
- An interview with the Ravens
- National speculation that the Pittsburgh Steelers could hire him to replace Mike Tomlin
- The Commanders request
- Connection to the Raiders through ties to Tom Brady
The man is getting noticed.
Why a Lateral Move?
Generally speaking, it does not make sense why Flores would leave the Vikings, a place with great defense that he built, for the Commanders, a team with a terrible defense that won’t provide him with a promotion.
Hypothetically, the Commanders could pay Flores more, but most assume the Vikings’ owners would match any DC offer he received in the open market.
If Flores departs Minnesota, it will likely be for a head coaching job with the Ravens, Steelers, or Raiders — not a shimmy to Washington or Dallas for the job he’s held for three years.
You must be logged in to post a comment.