Brian Flores has served as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator for each of the past three NFL seasons. He also previously spent three years as the Miami Dolphins’ head coach and has reportedly been seeking a return to that position with a new team. His chances of doing so in 2026 recently plummeted amid other major offseason news.
Brian Flores’ Head Coach Candidacy Takes a Major Hit in 2026 NFL Offseason
The Pittsburgh Steelers were reportedly considering Flores as one of their potential candidates to hire as their new head coach. Mike Tomlin resigned after the 2025 season, so they need a replacement this year.
They apparently decided to go in a different direction when it was recently announced that they are expected to hire Mike McCarthy to fill their vacancy. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert explained what this means for Flores in the 2026 coaching cycle.
“And with that, there are no known potential HC destinations for Brian Flores. Unless he becomes a late candidate somewhere else, he will be the Vikings’ defensive coordinator in 2026,” reported Seifert.
And with that, there are no known potential HC destinations for Brian Flores. Unless he becomes a late candidate somewhere else, he will be the Vikings’ defensive coordinator in 2026. https://t.co/6aiMHbBTjG
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 24, 2026
He has done an impressive job in Minnesota, including helping the Vikings’ defense rank third and fourth in PFSN’s Impact Rankings over the past two seasons. His success in the role, as well as his previous experience as a head coach in Miami, made him a potential candidate to fill one of the vacancies in the 2026 NFL offseason.
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Seifert no longer believes this is the case after the Steelers landed McCarthy. He explained that no other teams without a head coach have been officially connected to Flores, so his most likely outcome this year is to remain the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
With the job in Pittsburgh reportedly being filled, just four vacancies currently remain at this point in the offseason. The Buffalo Bills are probably the most attractive option, considering they have been an annual playoff team and the defending NFL MVP in Josh Allen. The Las Vegas Raiders may be intriguing as well with the number-one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a ton of available cap space to make moves this year.
The Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns are the other two teams with a head coaching vacancy, but apparently, Flores is not presently a candidate for either. Seifert mentioned that this could change at some point, but it appears unlikely this year.
