Flores eyes a return to Pittsburgh. The Vikings scramble for a replacement, with Morris and Jones emerging as strong possibilities.
The Minnesota Vikings (9-8) could be on the verge of losing their best assistant coach. Pittsburgh Steelers insider Gary Dulac reports, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is set for a second interview with the Steelers.
The Steelers are said to have shown interest in both Flores and former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. Both have strong ties to Pittsburgh, as the place is McCarthy's hometown and, for Flores, a return to a place he has coached before.
McCarthy's affinity for the city of Pittsburgh makes sense given his history there, but Flores likely is the better head coaching candidate. The end of McCarthy's tenures in both Green Bay and Dallas saw team trajectory go off the rails despite a handful of winning seasons with the Cowboys and playoff success in Green Bay.
Ted Schwerzler of "Minnesota Sports Fan" discussed what the move would mean for the Vikings and where they might go if Flores departs.
"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."
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore talks to Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris after a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesMorris is certainly a strong candidate given his track record. Simply seeing the opportunity to be a head coach at two different NFL franchises commands a certain level of respect that other coaches may not receive.
The former Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach knows football and, presumably, how to foster a good culture. Add in the fact that he is still young and passionate about the game, and it makes the potential hire a good fit for the Vikings. The past coaching ties with O'Connell make it what could be both a good hire and a hire that O'Connell can trust.
The promotion of Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones stands out as another solid move.
What is clear is while Minnesota needs to make an effort to retain as much of the best contributors in its coaching staff as it can, the Vikings also need to be realistic about what they will need to do this offseason. Replacing Flores might be one of those things.
Minnesota will look to make the right coaching decisions over the next few months.