After interviewing for the Browns’ defensive coordinator job, Brian Flores received his first head coaching interview request in this year’s cycle. The Cardinals want to interview the former Dolphins HC, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Although the Cards are aiming to hire their general manager first, coaching candidates are beginning to emerge in Arizona. Flores joins Sean Payton and Vance Joseph in the mix for this job.
Just more than a year ago, Flores appeared in the clear to prepare for a fourth season as Miami’s HC. But the Dolphins fired the longtime Bill Belichick lieutenant, just after he had defeated the then-playoff-bound Patriots to close a season with a winning record. That set off a seminal chain of events, which changed Flores’ reputation and the Dolphins’ plans.
The racial discrimination lawsuit Flores filed against the NFL and some of its teams is ongoing, and while several teams (the Bears, Giants, Saints and Texans) still proceeded with HC interviews during last year’s busier HC carousel, Flores ended up taking a gig as Pittsburgh’s linebackers coach. Flores’ lawsuit also was believed to scuttle the Dolphins’ plans at bringing in Payton and Tom Brady, and Ross drew a tampering suspension. While the NFL did not punish Ross as a result of Flores’ tanking allegations, his Miami exit created quite the controversy and stripped the team of first- and third-round draft picks.
Handed one of the worst rosters in recent NFL history, Flores went 5-11 with the 2019 Dolphins and led them to winning seasons in 2020 and ’21. While Flores continued to make changes at offensive coordinator and ruffled some feathers among the organization, his Miami record (24-25) stands out among Belichick assistants. Flores took the Miami job after being Belichick’s de facto DC in 2018, a season that finished with the Patriots becoming the second team in Super Bowl history to hold an opponent (the Rams) without a touchdown. During Flores’ time in New England, he coached Cardinals GM candidate Adrian Wilson. An Achilles injury prevented Wilson from playing for the Pats in 2013, but veteran Cardinals reporter Mike Jurecki notes the former safety was impressed with the then-safeties coach (Twitter link).
Considering the Dolphins’ pursuit of Payton, it is interesting both he and Flores are on the radar for the Cardinals position. Flores, 41, never figured to stay long as a Steelers position coach. While no other teams during this year’s cycle have requested a head coaching interview with him this year, more DC interest probably figures to come his way soon.
Better hire him…or else you’re getting sued for being a racist.
99% sure the league sent out a letter that said all teams with a vacancy must interview and someone, who wants to be in the leagues good graces, will hire him.
He’ll tell the media that the owner showed up drunk and unprepared
You’re a typical cincinasshole.
Flores did nothing in Pittsburgh, defense depends on Watt. The dude really doesn’t deserve a HC job.
not to pile on this guy, but if he was tasked with rejuvenating Devin Bush , he totes failed
objectively..
Not exactly sure what Flores did here, to be truthful. Bush hasn’t been the same since the ACL tear and looks like a guy who doesn’t want to be in on tackles. Spillane improved and Robinson looks like a keeper
Someone above mentions Watt and while I like him and agree the defense hinges upon him, the seasons Cam and Hightower had can’t be overlooked
Guess my point is that they went 7-2 down the stretch but that wasn’t against top tier teams. There are some glaring weaknesses on the line, at inside linebacker and in the secondary
Whether it’s Austin or Flores or both, there’s a great deal of improvement needed before they go to the next level
Just to clarify though, we all agree that was a playoff caliber defense that was held back by an anemic offense, right?
They have plenty of room for improvement as called out, but the bigger opportunity is by far on the other side of the ball…
Do they really want this guy or is it to fulfill the ‘Rooney Rule’ which sux!!!
SMH
next to Harold R at MLB, Pittsburgh has the biggest racist HC in sports, best stay there flores
I would love to see him interact with Kyler Murray. Flores strikes me as a no BS kind of coach and that is what this team needs.