Steelers consider former assistant Brian Flores, now Vikings DC, for head coach after his contentious departure and legal battles.
The Pittsburgh Steelers sent out a coaching lifeline when Brian Flores was considered toxic around the NFL. Now, they are interested in making him their head coach.
The Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator will be the first candidate to interview in person with the Steelers on Monday as they look to replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned this past Tuesday. Pittsburgh has conducted videoconference interviews with two Los Angeles Rams assistants – defensive coordinator Chris Shula and pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase – as well as Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
The Steelers have also asked for permission to speak with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Flores has also interviewed for the Baltimore Ravens' head coaching position.
Flores, 44, was fired by the Dolphins as their head coach following the 2021 season, after compiling a 24-25 record in three years. The split was ugly, and Flores eventually filed a racial discrimination lawsuit with the NFL and several teams for hiring practices.
Though Flores was in litigation with the league, Pittsburgh hired him as a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach. Flores left for Minnesota following the 2022 season and has spent the last three years as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
The Vikings went 9-8 this season, but the defense was outstanding, finishing third in total yards given up and seventh in points allowed. In Flores’ first two seasons, the Vikings ranked 16th both years in total defense, 13th in scoring defense in 2023, then improved to fifth in 2024.
Flores was an assistant coach for 15 seasons with the New England Patriots from 2004-18 under Bill Belichick, during which the Patriots won four Super Bowl titles. Flores’ key roles during that time were safeties coach, linebacker coach, and defensive play caller.
Flores moved on to the Dolphins but was fired after two straight winning seasons. The Dolphins were 10-6 in 2020 and 9-8 in 2021 after going 5-11 in Flores' debut season.
Flores played for four seasons at Boston College from 2000-03 as a linebacker and safety. He then went right into coaching by joining the Patriots’ staff.
A New York native, Flores grew up in Brooklyn.