Since the Minnesota Vikings‘ 2025 season concluded, Brian Flores has been considering his next career move. Moreover, on Jan. 20, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced the completion of Flores’ interview, the first in-person interview they have conducted in their search for Mike Tomlin’s successor.
Flores has interviewed for the Baltimore Ravens’ head coaching position and has also met with the Washington Commanders regarding their defensive coordinator opening. His contract with the Vikings is set to expire, but Minnesota reportedly hopes to retain him if he doesn’t land a head coaching role.
Nonetheless, amid Flores exploring his options, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis shared his take on the Vikings’ defensive coordinator’s prospects for a head coaching job.
“I think if Brian Flores doesn’t get the head coaching job in Pittsburgh, I mean, it’s going to be a tough situation for him from a head coaching perspective,” Lewis said on the Jan. 20 edition of “The Alec Lewis Show.” “I mean, it feels like Jesse Minter, the DC in Los Angeles with the Chargers, has a pretty good shot in Las Vegas.
“He’s also interviewed with the Ravens and would expect him to be a candidate there. And then other than that, I mean, Arizona, it doesn’t seem like, from everything I understand, I don’t believe Brian Flores has interviewed with Arizona.
“And then you’re talking about some of these defensive coordinator hire possibilities, what would be available? Would a head coach be willing to go that route? Would Brian Flores want to go that route? All of that stuff still kind of remains up in the air, and questions to broach once the head coaching opportunities either dry up or whether it happens.”
Brian Flores Alternatives for the Vikings
As a result, the Vikings need to be prepared if Flores decides to head elsewhere, whether as a head coach or a defensive coordinator. In his mailbag article, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis believes that if Flores leaves, a potential replacement is former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.
“Morris would definitely be in play,“ Lewis wrote in his article published on Jan. 16. “He and O’Connell worked together with the Rams in 2021. Morris was most recently the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who drastically improved their defense this season (from 30th in DVOA in 2024 to 15th in 2025) with the addition of Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator.
“Morris is charismatic. He has relationships with some of the Vikings’ other defensive coaches, too. The fit makes sense. But there’s one important question to consider: How much of a role did he play in the defensive improvement in Atlanta, compared to Ulbrich’s influence on the schematic shifts and play calling?”
The Latest on Daronte Jones’ Vikings Future
Lewis also provided an update on Daronte Jones, who seems to be the Vikings’ top internal choice to succeed Flores if their defensive coordinator leaves. At the same time, Jones is interviewing with other teams for a defensive coordinator role as he explores his options.
“The clear internal candidate is Daronte Jones, who has served as the team’s defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach under Flores,“ Lewis added. “… Last year, Jones interviewed for defensive coordinator positions with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints. One executive participating in one of those sessions raved about Jones’ interview, saying that he believed Jones would soon become a defensive coordinator.
“But Flores isn’t the only assistant able to meet with other teams. Jones can, too. He has already interviewed for the defensive coordinator positions with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. Subsequent head coaching hires could create more opportunities. If the Vikings are convinced they’d want Jones to replace Flores, they must manage the situation with foresight and alertness. Losing both would add even more uncertainty to an offseason full of it.”
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