Brian Flores at Vikings Minicamp
This past week, the Minnesota Vikings conducted a mandatory minicamp, with defensive coordinator Brian Flores taking a close look as the players participated in drills.
When the offseason began, it was rather unclear—maybe surprising—that Flores was sporting a Vikings hat. After serving as head coach for the Miami Dolphins, he had caught the attention of several NFL teams this past hiring cycle.
The Chicago Bears and the New York Jets confirmed that they interviewed Flores in January, but he ultimately didn’t secure another head coaching job. So now, he’s back for his third season as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
Flores experienced some success in his initial seasons with Minnesota, credited with a defensive turnaround that many found impressive. Even though the regular season is still a couple of months away, his innovative approach and playcalling style were on full display during the minicamp.
During a full-team drill on Thursday, the defense’s surprising pre-snap formation caught new center Ryan Kelly off guard, prompting him to ask what calls he should make to counter that setup.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” head coach Kevin O’Connell playfully told Kelly, who later remarked to reporters, “I really don’t know what they’re doing.”
“It must’ve been close to the end of the offseason program because he ran some stuff I didn’t even know was in the playbook,” O’Connell added. “That’s just how Flow operates—I’m always pushing him to be creative.”
Although Flores isn’t stepping into the 2025 NFL season as a head coach, he expressed gratitude for the interview experience. He mentioned being “happy” to be back in Minnesota.
“It was genuinely an honor to be in that interview setting and discuss the position,” Flores conveyed. “It was a valuable experience, and I enjoyed it. I’m really glad to be here.”
His journey with the Dolphins ended after the 2021 season when he filed a lawsuit against the league for racial discrimination following his dismissal, a case that remains unresolved.
Last season, the Vikings ranked fifth in the league for scoring defense, a notable improvement from finishing 14th the previous year and 28th before Flores joined the team.
While free agency helped enhance the roster, Flores also played a significant role in developing previously unsigned players like safety Josh Meterrace and linebacker Ivan Pace into crucial contributors.
During the last season, the Vikings led the league with 33 takeaways, fostering plenty of celebratory moments on the field. “It brings me joy to see them so excited,” Flores said, reflecting on those achievements.
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