Brian Flores remains in Minnesota.
The Vikings have signed defensive coordinator Flores to a new contract, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday. The team announced the extension soon after.
Pelissero and Rapoport added that the parties agreed to an extension last week, which was finalized on Wednesday. One caveat is that Flores is still in the running for the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching jobs. If Flores doesn’t land one of those HC jobs, he’s on the other hand to shut down opposing offenses like the Vikings DC.
Considered one of the top defensemen in the league, Flores’ contract was up and he was drawing a lot of interest from other teams, Pelissero said. He interviewed with the Washington Chiefs for their defensive coordinator opening, but right now the only way to get Flores out of the Twin Cities is as the team’s new head coach.
In a tough 2025 campaign for head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense, Flores’ defense was still stellar. Flores’ team ranked seventh in the league in points allowed and third in yards, and used its aggressive approach with composure. That’s why, when the season ended, O’Connell said re-signing Flores was a priority.
Flores, 44, earned praise during his long tenure with the New England Patriots, where he earned four Super Bowl rings as an assistant in various roles from 2004-2018.
In 2019, Flores began a three-year run as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He was fired after the 2021 season.
Flores filed a lawsuit in February or 2022 against the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants for discrimination in hiring and firing. His career continued to Pittsburgh, where he became a Steelers linebacker and senior defensive end for one season before beginning his days in Minnesota.
Since 2023 – O’Connell’s second season in charge of the Vikings – Flores has brought a tenacity to the Vikings defense that has brought out the best in defenders like Harrison Smith, Andrew Van Ginkel, Josh Metellus and others. Unless the Steelers or Ravens come and offer a coaching position, Flores and the Vikings expect a lot more destruction heads ahead.