The Washington Commanders are continuing their search for a new defensive coordinator, and on Wednesday, they brought in one of the more intriguing names on the market: Brian Flores.
Flores, whose contract with the Minnesota Vikings has expired, is drawing considerable interest across the league-not just for coordinator roles, but also as a potential head coaching candidate. Minnesota has reportedly expressed interest in retaining him, but the demand for Flores’ services suggests he’ll have options.
Washington’s list of candidates reflects a wide-ranging approach. They've already interviewed Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen and Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.
Seahawks defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Karl Scott and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham have also been requested for interviews. Former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is scheduled to meet with the team as well.
But Flores brings a unique résumé to the table. At 44, he’s logged two decades in the NFL, cutting his teeth in New England’s system starting in 2004.
He climbed the Patriots’ coaching ladder, working on both sides of the ball and special teams before becoming the unofficial defensive coordinator in 2018. That year, New England’s defense played a pivotal role in their Super Bowl LIII run, holding the Rams to just three points in the title game.
That success helped launch Flores into a head coaching role with the Miami Dolphins in 2019. Over three seasons, he posted a 24-25 record-not playoff-worthy, but not without bright spots.
His Dolphins teams played hard, and in 2020, they won 10 games, narrowly missing the postseason. Still, the franchise opted to move on after the 2021 season, a decision that raised eyebrows around the league.
Flores didn’t stay on the sidelines long. He joined Mike Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh in 2022 as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach. In 2023, he was hired by the Vikings to lead their defense-and that’s where things really started to click again.
In 2025, under Flores’ guidance, the Vikings finished ninth in scoring defense and fifth in total defense. That’s a significant leap for a unit that had struggled in previous years.
While they were middle-of-the-pack against the run (22nd), they were elite against the pass, ranking third in the league. Flores’ aggressive, pressure-heavy approach brought an edge to Minnesota’s defense, and it’s easy to see why teams are lining up to talk to him.
For the Commanders, this is a critical hire. With a new regime in place and a likely top draft pick coming in April, Washington is trying to reset its culture and identity. Bringing in a defensive mind like Flores-someone who’s coached under Bill Belichick, led his own team, and rebuilt a defense in Minnesota-could be a foundational move.
There’s still plenty of competition for Flores’ services, and it remains to be seen whether Washington can land him. But one thing is clear: wherever he ends up, that defense is going to bring the heat.