The Minnesota Vikings‘ chances of keeping Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator could be taking a hit. On Jan. 13, news emerged that Mike Tomlin is stepping away from his role as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite having two years left on his contract.
Moreover, that’s another potential head-coaching opportunity for Flores, and it’s an organization that knows him well. Flores spent the 2022 season with the Steelers as the senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach before heading to Minnesota.
On Jan. 13, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that a high-level executive said Flores, as the Steelers’ head coach, “makes too much sense.”
ESPN reported that Tomlin told Steelers players he would step down during their 2 p.m. ET meeting on Jan. 13. The announcement came a day after Pittsburgh’s playoff elimination following a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card round.
“During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our Head Coach,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years.”
Vikings Want to Keep Brian Flores
Before the Steelers and Tomlin news dropped, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke about Flores’ future. He reiterated his commitment to keeping the defensive coordinator on his coaching staff for the 2026 NFL season. Nonetheless, O’Connell notes his support for Flores’ ambition to become a head coach again.
“We’ve been really aggressive, and Flo knows exactly how we feel about him,” O’Connell said at his end-of-season press conference on Jan. 13. “But at the same time, I want to be really supportive. I’m really excited for him. I think he’s going to, for sure, talk to one team about their head coach position.
“Would not be surprised at all if it ends up being multiple. I think he’s more than deserving of everything he’s brought to our organization over these last three years.
“It’s been an awesome process to go back to when I first sat down with him and really talked about this vision, his impact, and what it’s inevitably ended up being. It’s been a really positive thing for me.”
Kevin O’Connell Talks Friendship With Brian Flores
Moreover, O’Connell mentioned his relationship with Flores and, as his friend, the Vikings coach understands that his offer to be the team’s defensive coordinator is secondary to this head-coach hiring cycle.
“Our relationship is super strong,” O’Connell added. “We’re talking almost every day and just making sure he knows the intent of where we’re at to have him as our defensive coordinator.
“He has kept no secrets about his desire to stay here doing that role as well. But I think it’s important that he totally commits to going through this process, especially the head-coaching process, and puts his best foot forward, which I know he will.
“He’s been through it before. I’m not surprised people are wanting to talk to him about that role, and [I’m] excited for him to do so, all well knowing our No. 1 priority, really, before the season even ended. But our No. 1 priority has been to get that thing done with him.”
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