Brian Flores had a complicated exit from the Miami Dolphins after three seasons as their head coach, but there’s no doubting his ability.
The New York Jets requested an interview with Flores, the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, for their head-coaching vacancy according to multiple reports. That shouldn’t be too surprising after the Vikings went 14-3 with Flores doing a great job orchestrating the defense. But if the Jets interview Flores it will be his first since filing a lawsuit against the NFL for discriminatory hiring practices.
Flores filed the lawsuit in 2022, not long after he was fired by the Dolphins. He claimed racial discrimination by the league and select teams in its hiring practices for head coaches and executives. There was speculation that league owners could hold that against him as he continued his coaching career, but Flores got an assistant job with the Steelers in 2022 and has been the Vikings’ defensive coordinator for two seasons. He has done an excellent job with the Vikings defense, turning that unit into one of the best in the league with his schemes.
The Jets are already planning to interview or have interviewed a huge list of candidates for their job, which became vacant when they fired Robert Saleh. Among the candidates they have either interviewed, plan to interview or have requested interviews with, via Adam Schefter of ESPN: Rex Ryan, Josh McCown, Joe Brady, Aaron Glenn, Brian Griese, Vance Joseph, Josh McCown, Matt Nagy, Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan, Bobby Slowik, Arthur Smith, Mike Vrabel and Flores.
There are some interesting names on that list, but Flores stands out due to the lawsuit and other controversies from his time with the Dolphins, such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa criticizing Flores over how he was treated when the two were in Miami together.
But Flores has a very good resume. And it appears he’ll get chances to at least interview for a second chance to be a head coach.
