Brian Flores Emerging as a Top Candidate for Raiders Head Coach Role - With Tom Brady in the Room, Las Vegas Eyes a New Era
The Las Vegas Raiders are once again at a crossroads - and this time, Tom Brady is helping steer the ship.
After a turbulent 2025 season that ended with Pete Carroll out after just one year, the Raiders are back in the head coaching market. The pressure is mounting in Vegas, and with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in their back pocket, this next hire could set the tone for the franchise’s future.
One name gaining real traction: Brian Flores.
Flores, currently the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, is no stranger to high-stakes football. He spent nearly a decade in New England alongside Brady, collecting three Super Bowl rings and building a reputation as a tough, disciplined, and detail-oriented coach. That shared history with Brady - now a minority owner in Las Vegas - could be a major factor in the Raiders’ decision-making process.
Flores’ head coaching résumé includes a three-year stint with the Miami Dolphins, where he went 24-25. While his time in Miami had its ups and downs - including some well-documented tension with then-quarterback Tua Tagovailoa - it also showcased his ability to build a competitive culture quickly. After a season as a senior defensive assistant in Pittsburgh, Flores took over the Vikings defense in 2023 and helped stabilize a unit that had struggled in years prior.
Now, he could be in line to take over in Las Vegas - and he might not be coming alone.
There’s growing buzz around the idea of Flores teaming up with Brian Daboll, the recently fired Giants head coach, as his offensive coordinator. Like Flores, Daboll has deep roots in the Patriots system.
He was a key part of the coaching staff during both phases of the Brady-Belichick dynasty, contributing to five of New England’s six Super Bowl titles. If this pairing comes together, it would bring a strong blend of defensive discipline and offensive innovation - not to mention a shared language from their days in Foxborough.
The timing of this potential hire couldn’t be more critical. The Raiders are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
Mendoza, fresh off a Heisman-winning season, brings star power and sky-high expectations. Whoever takes over as head coach will be tasked with guiding his development and building an offense around his strengths.
That’s where Daboll’s potential involvement becomes especially intriguing. His work with Josh Allen in Buffalo was instrumental in transforming Allen from a raw prospect into one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. Pairing that quarterback-whisperer pedigree with Flores’ leadership and defensive acumen could give the Raiders a much-needed identity - something they’ve lacked for years.
Of course, this is still in the interview and speculation phase. The Raiders have plenty of options, and Flores is reportedly drawing interest from other teams as well. But the pieces seem to be aligning in Vegas: a franchise in need of direction, a quarterback of the future on the way, and a leadership duo with proven success at the highest levels of the game.
After the misfire with Carroll - and the short-lived Chip Kelly experiment at offensive coordinator - the Raiders can’t afford another swing and miss. Flores, with his experience, championship pedigree, and potential coaching staff synergy, could be the stabilizing force this franchise has been searching for.
And with Brady in the room helping to make the call, don’t be surprised if the Raiders go with someone who knows exactly what it takes to win - because he’s already done it.