Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has signed a contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday.
According to reports, Flores, who was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins for three seasons, is a candidate for a head coaching position in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, so if he gets any one of those jobs, he will be moving on from Minnesota.
Under Flores, the Vikings’ defense has steadily improved. Before he arrived in Minnesota in 2023, the Vikings’ defense ranked 31st overall in 2022. Flores led the unit to a 16th-place ranking following the 2023 and 2024 seasons and a third-place finish this past season, allowing only 282.6 yards per game in 2025. Only Houston (277.2) and Denver (278.2) allowed fewer total yards per game.
According to Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, Flores, whose contract expired at the end of the 2025 season, has done a good job of putting players in a position to succeed.
“Brian has a unique ability to connect with players, understand their skill sets, and put them in positions to maximize their impact on the field,” said O’Connell in a statement. “The identity of our defense is a reflection of his leadership and preparation. On a personal level, I’ve really valued the relationship we’ve built over the last three years, and that shared trust, alignment, and high standard will continue to be critical to our success.”
The 44-year-old Flores, who was a 2024 finalist for The Associated Press Assistant Coach of the Year, helped the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record and playoff appearance in 2024, the second-most wins in team history. The Vikings led the NFL in interceptions (24), passes defensed (95), opponent 4th-down conversion percentage (37.1%), and interceptions per attempt (3.8%) and tied for the league lead in takeaways (33), despite having 14 defenders on the active roster who were in their first season with Minnesota in 2024.
Flores’ defense recorded a takeaway in every regular-season game in 2024, setting a franchise record for the most consecutive games with a takeaway in a single season, and they were the only team in the NFL to record a takeaway in every game.
The Vikings’ defense is better with Flores on their sideline, and hopefully for them, he’ll stay there in 2026.
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