MN Vikings Extend Brian Flores IF Head Coaching Jobs Dry Up

Brian Flores is staying with the Minnesota Vikings. Maybe. Possibly.

At this point the two openings he has been involved in are the Ravens and Steelers. With legends Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh dismissed, Flores has conducted a pair of interviews in Pittsburgh and one in Baltimore.

Flores has also received interest rumored from elsewhere, like Las Vegas.

Brian Flores will remain Vikings DC if…

As long as there are teams with head coaching vacancies who are interested in Brian Flores, Flores will have interest in leaving. But after the news today, he will not be leaving for a defensive coordinator position.

What exactly has been the problem regarding a deal between Brian Flores in the Minnesota Vikings has been a point of contention. But if he is a defensive coordinator, it will be with the Vikings, after he agreed to a contract extension Wednesday night.

FLO!!!

The #Vikings have signed Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores to a contract extension.

📰: https://t.co/vQOhYZmNq6 pic.twitter.com/LncdfXrgze

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 22, 2026

J.J. McCarthy’s lack of production, and the quarterback uncertainty as a whole, consistently put Flores’ group in a bad spot. Still, they were third-best in the league for yards allowed and seventh in points. After being first in takeaways during the 2024 season, they slid to just 10th this year.

Flores spent three seasons coaching the Miami Dolphins before being snapped up by the MN Vikings. 2026 will be his fourth season working as a defensive coordinator in the organization.

Is a HC path still available for Flores?

There are multiple teams still looking for their next coach. That doesn’t mean any of them would actually consider Flores. Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh have spoken to him, but he has left each opportunity without a deal. That’s potentially even more telling considering he has done two rounds with Pittsburgh.

There have been no links to Arizona, and he has not interviewed with the Raiders, Cleveland Browns, or the Buffalo Bills. Outside of Buffalo, the rest of those teams have been deeply involved in their process. It seems like only a late change from Brady and the Raiders would be a logical connection.

Related: MN Vikings Go Defense in Legendary NFL Mock Draft (1.0)

At this point it would seem to be Pittsburgh or bust for Flores. It is telling that the MN Vikings are now making the news official that he will return as their coordinator. It’s a soft landing spot if he doesn’t find another job, but it also shows the cards as to where Flores believes his candidacy is at.

Realistically, this is the best case scenario for the Vikings. Flores returns to a defense he knows well, and one that will again need his expertise to succeed. Kevin O’Connell has work to do with the roster, but at least he doesn’t have to worry about who’s speaking into half of it.