Vikings DC Lands First Head Coaching Interview of Cycle

Finding another head coaching opportunity will not be easy for Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, who won’t even be considered by a couple of teams with openings at the top of their coaching food chain.

That’s because he is currently suing some of the organizations that would be potential landing spots, including the Giants. Miami needs a new head coach now too, but I think it’s safe to say Flores isn’t in the mix there either.

In the end, it’s those other NFL teams that lose in the Brian Flores spat. Over the past three seasons, it’s been the Minnesota Vikings who have benefitted. Since arriving in Minneapolis three offseasons ago, B-Flo has proven yet again that he is one of the best defensive minds in football — and his scheme is second to NONE.

But when the coaching carousel first started spinning, Flores’ old pal Tom Brady and his Las Vegas Raiders did not immediately come calling, as many expected. In fact, they’ve already made multiple head coaching interviews public, and Flores is not one of them.

Baltimore Ravens schedule MN Vikings Brian Flores interview

So instead of his first head coaching opportunity coming from Vegas, Brian Flores will first meet with the Baltimore Ravens, where he will try and convince owner Steve Bisciotti that he is the right man to replace the legendary John Harbaugh, who was in charge for the last 18 seasons in Baltimore.

Sources: The #Ravens plan on interviewing #Vikings DC Brian Flores for their open HC vacancy.

Flores has an expiring contract in Minnesota and is hopeful to get a second opportunity to be a HC. pic.twitter.com/ym5lgM39yW

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 8, 2026

Harbaugh won a Super Bowl for the Ravens back in 2012, and Baltimore was competing for the AFC North crown year in and year out, under his leadership. Even recently, the Ravens won 13 games in 2023 and 12 games in 2024, before sliding to 8-9 in 2025, prompting Harbaugh’s firing.

Last offseason, Flores went through a hectic interview schedule, but they did take a little while to start rolling in. That’s been the case again this offseason. We’ll see if he gets more interview invitations now that Baltimore has taken the leap.

Brian Flores coached 49 games and went 24-25 as head coach of the Miami Dolphins for three seasons between 2019 and 2021. His high water mark in South Beach came in 2020, when the Dolphins finished 10-6 and barely missed the playoffs.

MN Vikings might need a backfill

With Flores garnering an interview that isn’t with the Raiders, it may be prudent for the Minnesota Vikings to start considering his replacement. Flores has handled everything on the defensive side of the ball, since he arrived. If he leaves, O’Connell would undoubtedly need another great DC to lean on.

Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon worked with the Vikings defense from 2014-2017, before he became the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator. You’d have to think he would be the No. 1 outside target, should Minnesota need to exercise them.

Or, they could stay in house, with coaches currently underneath B-Flo. In an article today at The Athletic, Alec Lewis wrote that the Vikings would consider both passing game coordinator Daronte Jones and linebackers coach Mike Siravo, if Flores walks.

If Flores were to leave Minnesota, two obvious internal candidates would emerge for the defensive coordinator role: passing game coordinator Daronte Jones and linebackers coach Mike Siravo.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic