Brian Flores considered top HC candidate heading into 2026

Brian Flores is entering his fourth season as the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. He is coming off maybe his best season calling plays for the Vikings, helping the team rank 3rd in yards allowed despite getting little help from the offense.This offseason generated head coaching interviews with the Ravens and Steelers, but Flores was again denied a second chance to become a head coach.

He spent the 2019-21 seasons as the Dolphins' head coach before getting fired, going 24-25.Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox believes Flores could once again be a strong head-coaching candidate after the 2026 season. Flores is among eight NFL coordinators to land on Knox's list.

Early in the offseason, we saw John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski both get new head coaching jobs shortly after being fired from their old ones. We also saw Robert Saleh get a second opportunity after rebuilding his stock as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator.Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has spent the past four seasons rebuilding his stock after being fired as the Miami Dolphins head coach in 2022.

He spent the 2022 season as a Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant and has spent the past three as Minnesota's DC.Flores' résumé makes him more than qualified for a second opportunity. However, his ongoing lawsuit against the NFL looms large, likely making it difficult for him to actually get another head coaching job before the issue is settled.

That is unfortunate for Flores' personal NFL journey, but good news for the Vikings. If their offense can bounce back in 2026 to at least a league-average level, Flores' defense could carry Minnesota into the playoffs.This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Brian Flores considered top HC candidate heading into 2026