Will Brian Flores be back as Vikings' DC in 2026? Why it's such a critical question
Flores' defense has been one of the league's best units in the second half of the season. But can the Vikings keep him around in 2026?
Brian Flores wants his defense to look like chaos. At its most basic level, the scheme is intended to make the opposition uncomfortable.
The more time an offensive coordinator spends on game planning for the Minnesota Vikings defense, the less time he has to focus on his own unit. Stressed protection schemes lead to less attention being paid to technique. A quarterback’s mind is already overloaded, but second-guessing only adds to the difficulty.
Against Flores, nothing is easy, no matter who you are. Four weeks ago, the Vikings dropped Jayden Daniels into the blender. Dak Prescott was the next name taken. Jaxson Dart and Jared Goff have been the two most recent quarterbacks to be torpedoed by this defense.
Minnesota has given up one passing touchdown since the middle of November. If it wasn’t for Flores’ defense, the 8-8 Vikings would likely be vying for a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I’ve definitely been on some great defenses over the years that have had phenomenal performances,” potential Hall of Fame safety Harrison Smith of the Vikings said Thursday. “But when you’re bumped out of the playoffs, there are some realities that set in. It’s very easy to think, ‘Ah, I’m not going to go all in. I’m going to think about my career.’ Which is not unreasonable. But there’s something about this group. When you get between the lines, we just go all out. I don’t know why, exactly.”
Meeting Flores’ standard is undoubtedly part of the equation. Ask any Vikings player or coach about the way Flo operates, and they’ll use descriptors like intentional, detailed and precise. Winning trumps everything. Flores will toggle with roles, groupings, formations and strategies weekly. Whatever it takes.
The results are inarguable. The Vikings haven’t drafted a full-time defensive starter in the early rounds in almost a decade, yet Flores has produced elite defenses since he was hired in 2023. The current group ranks sixth in the league in defensive DVOA, an all-encompassing metric that accounts for strength of schedule.
Only the Jaguars, Eagles, Seahawks and Texans — all playoff teams — have allowed fewer points per drive than Minnesota since Week 11. Four of the Vikings’ opponents during that stretch boast top-10 offenses.
Production like this typically comes with national praise, which Flores and the Vikings have received.
It also comes with intrigue. Flores is in the final year of his three-year contract with Minnesota. He hasn’t shied away from his desire to get another crack at being a head coach. (He was the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019 to 2021, posting a 24-25 record.) It’s also worth noting that many NFL teams will be seeking new defensive coordinators this offseason, which will likely increase his asking price.
The Vikings know they can’t afford to lose him, given their already lengthy to-do list this offseason. Their quarterback situation is a massive question mark. They are also projected to be more than $30 million over the cap, which will require plenty of tough decisions. Adding Flores’ departure to the mix would only create more uncertainty about the team’s organizational direction. He has influenced personnel decisions. The Vikings have been deliberate about spending money on players who fit their system, requiring adaptability and high aptitude.