The Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator is in line to become head coach.

This season, Brian Flores has been a miracle worker for the Vikings. He has transformed one of the league’s worst units from a year ago.

Last season, the Vikings’ defense was atrocious. In terms of yards allowed, they were 31st, trailing only the Lions. They were also ranked 28th in points allowed, solidifying their status as one of the league’s worst defenses. That 2022 Vikings team managed to win 13 games despite having no defense.

The unit, however, was a major reason why the Vikings were blown out in several of their losses and were eventually labeled as frauds after allowing Daniel Jones to have a career day against them in a Wild Card playoff loss. There wasn’t much done in the offseason in terms of personnel that would have made them a better defense in 2023, leading many to believe it would be a problem for Minnesota again. Then Brian Flores arrived as the new Defensive Coordinator.

This season, Flores has been able to accomplish something truly remarkable. He’s taken a mostly unchanged roster, with a few additions at cornerback and linebacker, and completely altered expectations. At 20.2, the Vikings are currently tied for third in the NFL in average points allowed per game. They’ve also risen to eighth in the league in yards allowed per game. While Kevin O’Connell deserves a lot of credit for keeping the Vikings afloat in the absence of their starting quarterback, Brian Flores’ defense has been the driving force.

Minnesota’s Defense Has Made an Incredible Comeback
Brian Flores Adheres to an Ideology Similar to Great Offensive Coaches
So, the real question is, how did Brian Flores manage to turn things around so quickly? To begin, he is correctly using the same players who were on the roster a year ago. Changing a scheme to fit your personnel is more common on the offensive side of the ball. Flores has done exactly that to get the Vikings defense clicking.

Brian Flores quickly realized during training camp that three of his best defenders were all safeties. Rather than alternating them in and out of the lineup, he devised a defense that keeps them on the field almost every snap. Flores didn’t arrive in Minnesota with a preconceived notion of playing three safeties. Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, and Josh Metellus, the safety trio, could all earn Pro Bowl consideration down the stretch. They’ve played so well and so smoothly together while rotating through the defense.

Flores’ use of three safeties who all know how to tackle in space allows him to create pressure. Danielle Hunter is the only proven pass rusher on the Vikings’ roster. The rest are late-round picks or have been injured all year, as Marcus Davenport has. Flores has been blitzing with abandon, rather than sitting back and rushing four, hoping Hunter eventually gets home. Flores has adjusted his plan as needed at each stage, and the results have been spectacular. As a result, Brian Flores will most likely be a Head Coach somewhere else next year, which is unfortunate for the Vikings.

Brian Flores could be a good fit for two potential head coaching openings.
There appear to be two teams that would be interested in hiring Brian Flores away from the Vikings. The most important thing a team would need is a strong quarterback. When a rookie quarterback is paired with a defensive specialist coach, the results are almost always negative. Take a look at the Bears’ Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields. Both will most likely be looking for work during the offseason. It’s also what landed Flores in hot water as the Dolphins’ head coach due to his mismanagement of Tua Tagovailoa. With that in mind, the ideal match appears to exist.

Los Angeles Chargers are a perfect fit.

What would it look like if Justin Herbert received consistent defensive help? Brian Flores has been able to work his magic with Minnesota’s largely talent-depleted team. Consider what he could do with LA’s names on defense. Flores would have the ultimate chess piece to move around the board if Derwin James was present. Flores may be able to scheme up pressure without sending the kitchen sink on a play-by-play basis with James and great bookend edge rushers. Without an incredible turnaround, it appears almost certain that the Chargers job will be open at this point. Brian Flores appears to be the ideal hire to restore toughness to the organization, given the presence of a Justin Herbert-led offense.

The Washington Commanders are the next best thing.

Unless something unexpected happens, the Commanders will be leaving Ron Rivera at the end of the season. While not as accomplished as Herbert in Los Angeles, Sam Howell has shown real promise as a starting quarterback. Brian Flores would take on the role of culture maker that Rivera was originally brought in to do. At the very least, he’d get their leaky defense moving in the right direction. It would be a similar task to what he faced in Minnesota this year, with Washington ranking near the bottom of almost every defensive category. Washington could hire an offensive coach to help Howell develop, but it could do much worse than Flores.

Whatever team Flores coaches next season, it’s safe to assume that good defense and a strong culture will follow. He can be held accountable for steering the Dolphins in the right direction prior to his unexpected firing. Despite inconsistent quarterback play, he kept Miami in every playoff race. After successful stops in Pittsburgh and Minnesota, it would be surprising if Brian Flores is not one of the first names off the board during this year’s coaching carousel.