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The Minnesota Vikings held a mandatory mini stamp this week and Brian Flores stood close by as the Vikings defensive players participated in exercises.
Earlier this year, it was not clear that Flores would carry a Vikings cap when the team’s offseason program started. The former Miami Dolphins -Head coach withdrew interest from several NFL teams that had the main coach openings during the latest employment cycle.
Chicago Bears and the New York Jets were among teams confirming that they met with Flores for an interview in January.
Flores did not land another head coaching opportunity and returned to his third season as Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
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Defensive coordinator Brian Flores from Minnesota Vikings before a game against Green Bay Packers at US Bank Stadium December 29, 2024 in Minneapolis. (Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)
Flores was successful in his first few seasons with the Vikings, and his innovative schemes were widely credited for the defensive turn of the franchise. Although the regular season is still months away, Flores’ creativity and aggressive style with play-calling was already exhibited at MiniCamp.
Under full team exercises on Thursday, an unexpected adjustment before the snap of the defense got the new center Ryan Kelly to ask Viking’s head coach Kevin O’Connell about the call he had to make to block this game.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” O’Connell told Kelly, he later told journalists. “I have no idea what they’re doing over there.”
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“It must have been pretty close to the end of the offseason program because he ran some things today that I didn’t even know were in there,” added O’Connell. “It’s the floor. I am constantly challenging him to do these things.”
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores from Minnesota Vikings before a game against Green Bay Packers at US Bank Stadium 31 December 2023 in Minneapolis. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Although he does not enter the 2025 NFL season as the head coach, Flores expressed the appropriate to the possibility of undergoing the interview process. He added that he was “happy” to return to Minnesota.
“Being able to sit in this interview setting and have a conversation for this role is obviously an honor, and these jobs went to guys who were definitely deserving,” Flores said. “It was an amazing experience and I enjoyed it. I’m also very happy to be right where I am.”
The dolphins parted ways with Flores after the 2021 season. He brought a lawsuit against racial discrimination against the league shortly after losing his main coach job. The trial is still awaiting.
The Vikings ranked fifth place in the league in the scoring of the defense last season after completing the 14th the year before. They were 28. In 2022 before Flores arrived.
Defensive Tackle Jalen Redmond (61) of Minnesota Vikings stands on the field with her teammates during the second half of an NFC Wild-Card game against Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium 13 January 2025 in Glendale, Ariz. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Expenses in free agency helped improve the depth card, but Flores has also helped to make unerocated players like Safety Josh Metellus and Linebacker Ivan Pace to the most important contributors.
Last season, the Vikings tied to the league lead with 33 takeaways, which led to a steady stream of fields.
“My joy comes from seeing them having excitement,” Flores said.
