MN Vikings DC Lands Callback Interview for Dream Job

Last offseason, Minnesota Vikings Brian Flores received some interest on the NFL head coach carousel. Ultimately, he wound up back at TCO Performance Center, working under Kevin O’Connell.

This winter, after a slow start to the hiring cycle, momentum behind Flores is starting to pick up. And because he’s no longer under contract in Minnesota, he has other options at defensive coordinator too. He’s already taken one DC interview (Washington) that we know of.

KOC remains adamant that the Vikings desperately want Brian Flores back as their defensive coordinator. But behind the scenes, rumors continue to float around suggesting a situation far more complex than that.

We wouldn’t be hearing about this supposed BTS drama (some of which is drama dug up from over a year ago), if B-Flo weren’t showing so much interest in other DC jobs around the league.

And it will all magically go away if Flores were to land a head coaching gig, rendering the defensive coordinator conversation moot. Especially if his dream head coaching offer came calling.

Pittsburgh Steelers talking with Minnesota Vikings DC again

After one of the most successful head coaching tenures in modern football history, Mike Tomlin stepped down as the leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, after 19 seasons at the helm.

The organization is now tasked with finding a suitable replacement, and it appears they have significant interest in their old friend Brian Flores. Gerry Dulac (Post Gazette) originally reported the second interview. Mary Kay Cabot (Cleveland.com) got us the timing, which is Tuesday.

Steelers will talk to former Packers coach Mike McCarthy and have a second in-person interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores this week as they search for Mike Tomlin's replacement, per sources.

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) January 18, 2026

In order to meet the NFL’s “Rooney Rule” requirements, every team with a vacant head coaching position must interview a minority candidate for the role.

Of course, the Steelers long ago satisfied those requirements when they interviewed Flores the first time, along with others they’ve brought in, including Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Panthers DC Ejiro Evero and Rams OC Nathan Scheelhaase.

Related: Details on Vikings’ Offseason QB Plan Revealed

If Pittsburgh was to hire Flores, it would be a full-circle moment for both him and the Vikings. In 2006, before Tomlin was hired by the Steelers, he was defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, just like B-Flo is now.

Brian Flores was last a head coach in 2021, with the Miami Dolphins. He held that post for three seasons, before he was fired — a dismissal that resulted in Flores filing a lawsuit against the league and a handful of its teams.

Brian Flores departure would change things for MN Vikings

Whether Flores lands a head coaching job, or one of the defensive coordinator openings he has interviewed for, the MN Vikings must be ready to pivot. There is enough smoke, at this point, that KOC and Kwesi need to expect fire.

Internally, promoting defensive backs coach Daronte Jones would make a lot of sense. He recently completed a successful DC interview in Dallas, so others are already looking at him.

If the Vikings choose an external candidate, there have already been rumblings connecting them to former Falcons head coach, Raheem Morris, who coached with O’Connell in Los Angeles during the 2021 season.