The head coaching cycle is about to begin, and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores should receive plenty of interest. While most teams are looking for the next great offensive mastermind, Flores should be able to buck the trend and land one of the 32 most coveted jobs in the NFL coaching world. The former Patriots assistant has found some form of success at every stop in his professional career, and is currently responsible for one of the biggest defensive turnarounds of the year.
Last year, the Minnesota Vikings finished the season ranked 16th in EPA/play allowed. This year with Flores, the unit is a top-10 team despite bringing back mostly the same players. This is far from an outlier, as Flores improved New England’s defense when he first took over in 2018 and had Miami’s roster easily outplaying their talent in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 campaigns. While his time with the Dolphins didn’t end on the highest of notes, he was still 19-14 over his final two seasons with the club.
The biggest issue with Brian Flores as a head coach is that he didn’t handle Tua Tagovailoa particularly well. While the former first-round pick has thrived with Mike McDaniel, Flores didn’t appear to believe in his quarterback’s talents. Because of this, if Flores is going to get a second shot as a head coach, he should go somewhere that either already has a proven franchise quarterback, or is in an easy position to obtain a proven veteran.
Top 5 Brian Flores Head Coaching Fits, Ranked
5. New England Patriots
Brian Flores first made a name for himself in New England, so why not go back to where it all began? Even in a down year, the Patriots have one of the best defenses out there, and Flores should be salivating over the idea of working with Christian Gonzalez. New England is on a collision course with a top-three pick, and if they can get Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, they’re going to do it. However, if they can’t, then perhaps they could lure Kirk Cousins to New England with a big check and the promise of playing with Marvin Harrison Jr.
4. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints do not want to have Derek Carr back in 2024. However, considering the state of his contract, they’re stuck with him for at least another season. New Orleans would take a $52.8 million cap hit if they released him this offseason, so he’ll be around for at least one more season. Seeing as this team has won too many games to get a high draft pick, they might decide to see if Carr can turn it around in 2024. If that happens, Brian Flores could be a good head coach to compete in a weak division.
3. New York Jets
There is a very real chance that Robert Saleh will come back for another season with the New York Jets. However, if the team decides to part ways with the coach, Brian Flores should be high atop the list of potential replacements. This defense is loaded with talent, and an aggressive coach like Flores could have this unit looking like the best in the league next year. The biggest problem with New York’s roster has always been the quarterback, but Aaron Rodgers should be healthy in 2024. Assuming the two strong personalities can coexist for a season or two, this pairing has the potential to be dangerous.
2. Atlanta Falcons
Arthur Smith had three consecutive top-10 picks and decided to use them on Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. Those players are all criminally underused as the coach inexplicably refuses to let them see the field. It’s not like there are better alternatives on the roster, as Atlanta’s offense is one of the worst in the league. Assuming the team fires Smith after the season, Brian Flores could be an ideal choice to take over. There are talented players here, and the Falcons are projected to have over $36 million in cap space. That should be more than enough to sign old friend Kirk Cousins and give this team a much-needed reliable veteran passer.
1. Los Angeles Chargers
According to various rumors across the league, Brian Flores used to tell Tagovailoa that the team should have selected Justin Herbert instead of him. Well, now Flores finally has his chance to coach his preferred quarterback. Herbert is one of the best young passers in the game today, and Thursday night’s 63-21 loss shows just how badly this team needs him. The offense will be good as long as Herbert is healthy, which will allow Flores to devote his time to fixing Brandon Staley’s defense. This is a match made in heaven and one that could lead to multiple championships.
Main Photo: Jamie Sabau – USA Today
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