Brian Flores
Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings (MIN).
Quick Facts
- Role: Defensive Coordinator
- Team: Minnesota Vikings (MIN)
- NFL experience: Not listed
- Reports to: Kevin O'Connell (Head Coach)
- Coaching tree: see Coaching Trees
Background
Brian Flores enters his third season with the Minnesota Vikings as defensive coordinator in 2025, bringing more than two decades of NFL experience to Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's staff. Flores spent the 2022 season as the senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Vikings on Feb. 6, 2023. In Flores' first two seasons leading Minnesota's defense (2023-24), the Vikings totaled 53 defensive takeaways, the third most in the NFL during the span, and limited opponents to an average of 96.1 rushing yards per game, the third-fewest over those two seasons.
Scheme & Fantasy Angle
Flores runs an aggressive, takeaway-focused defense that ranked among the league leaders in turnovers and run defense; opposing offenses can face elevated turnover risk and suppressed rushing production against his unit.
In 2026, Flores is implementing a Kansas City–inspired secondary philosophy: strong pass rush anchors the defense, and cornerback development matters more than individual stars. The Vikings trade Jonathan Greenard to pursue elite pass rushers (Turner, Van Ginkel) while rotating cornerbacks at lower salary to preserve cap (per The Vikings May Be Ahead Of the Curve At Cornerback).
Championship component (June 9): ESPN's Bill Edholm identified Flores-led defense as a key asset in Minnesota's playoff potential, citing it as "first-rate" and part of the Vikings' strong supporting cast that could enable a Super Bowl run if the QB position stabilizes. (per Lunchbreak: ESPN's Central Question for Vikings 2026 Minicamp - Minnesota Vikings)