Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team would be “very aggressive” in retaining defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

13 January 2026

The Vikings are reportedly working on a new contract for Flores, one of the game’s best defensive minds who headed a Minnesota defense that allowed the league’s third lowest EPA per play in 2025. Flores, who once served as Dolphins head coach, could be a head coaching candidate for some of the teams looking to hire in the coming days and weeks. The Commanders are in talks with Flores about their defensive coordinator vacancy. It appears the Vikings are ready to do whatever it takes to keep Flores for 2026 and beyond, however.