It's time for Minnesota Vikings fans to get used to the idea that Brian Flores will not be the team's defensive coordinator in the 2026 season. And whether it is for the Steelers or another NFL franchise it appears Flores will be the head coach for some team soon.
Enzo Flojo of "Clutch Points" is reading the tea leaves. It appears imminent that the Vikings will be looking for a replacement soon, and that the team probably does not have much choice about it.
Flojo explored the situation and discussed where the Vikings and Steelers stand in the competition to bring Flores to coach their respective teams next year.
"As the Pittsburgh Steelers intensify their search for life after Mike Tomlin, one name continues to rise to the top: Brian Flores. The Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator is now viewed as a serious contender for the vacancy. He is scheduled for an in-person interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday. It will be Flores’ second meeting with Pittsburgh. That sends a strong signal that he has reached finalist status as the franchise looks for a new leader to reset its postseason fortunes.
From Minnesota’s perspective, the situation is delicate. The Vikings are working aggressively behind the scenes to keep Flores in purple. They view his return as their top offseason priority if he does not land a head coaching job. However, with Flores’ contract expired, the Vikings have no mechanism to block interviews. His leverage is substantial after engineering one of the league’s most dramatic defensive turnarounds. He helped elevate Minnesota to the No. 3 total defense in the NFL during the 2025 season."
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesThe Vikings really don't have much say, nor should they, in retaining Flores who seems destined not only to be a head coach again, but a solid one given his track record of success. Ahead of Flores appears to be a stable situation in Pittsburgh where he takes over a culture that has been intact for close to 20 years of the Mike Tomlin era.
Players in Pittsburgh knew the standard of expectation for Tomlin, and it's likely he and Flores are on the same page. Now, Flores may be able to coach a team that won its division and made the playoffs. It's difficult to turn down a coaching opportunity like the one that could be Flores' job if he wants it.
The Vikings' lack of control with their most recent defensive play caller's decision should shift the team's focus to what they can control: finding a replacement that can bring similar results.