To his great credit, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell fired Ed Donatell as his defensive coordinator after just one season. Fortune smiled on him when Brian Flores was willing to come to Minnesota in 2023, and the results over two-plus seasons have been very good.
Sunday's blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals was the Vikings' 23rd win since Flores became defensive coordinator. As shared by Mike Sando of The Athletic on Monday, Flores' defense has contributed a total of 236.4 EPA in those games compared to 12.1 EPA for the Vikings' offense in those contests.
When it comes to blitz and coverage schemes, and marrying the two, nothing is out of bounds for Flores. He will put the quarterback in a real bind, struggling to figure out who's blitzing, who's dropping into coverage.
Check out this clip from the game against the Bengals.
Has an NFL defense ever disguised like this?
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 22, 2025
They go from an all-out blitz look. To a man coverage look. To a Tampa 2 look. To playing what looks like Quarters on one side and C2 on the other.
Just diabolical stuff. pic.twitter.com/qH5Ggd1jnQ
NFL analyst Sam Monson broke down the amoeba that was the Vikings' defense on that play. Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, filling in for the injured Joe Burrow, had no chance. As he audibiled based on one defensive look, the look changed.
RIP NFL QBs facing Flores and the Vikings D.
— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) September 22, 2025
In the space of about 11 seconds, pre and post-snap, the Vikings D shows Cover-0, Cover-1, Cover/Tampa-2 and then let's call it 2-man, flowing (sorry) from one to the other.
And that's before the O needs to figure out which of the… pic.twitter.com/JAp5cRhWnq
ESPN analyst takes campaign for Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores to the next level
Back in May, in a column marking 100 days until the 2025 NFL season started, ESPN's Ben Solak offered a big endorsement of Flores.
"For another year, the greatest non-quarterback competitive advantage in the NFL is that of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He is unquestionably one of the 32 (if not 20) best coaches in football and a clear and obvious head coaching candidate, if not for the fact that he is suing the league."
It's a matter of time before Flores is a head coach again. His discrimination lawsuit against the NFL is currently stuck in the legal process, and it's unclear when a full resolution will come. He also currently does not have a contract with the Vikings past this season.
Solak reviewed what the Vikings did to the Bengals' offense. Like everyone else, he was very impressed, while adding a fresh endorsement of Flores.
Watching an absurdly well coached Vikings defense against the Bengals — attacking the ball, clouding the star receivers, high effort everywhere — and once again remembering that Brian Flores is the most deserving head coaching candidate in the league.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) September 22, 2025
And it’s not close!
It's possible (if not likely) that the Vikings offered both of their coordinators contract extensions late in the offseason. While offensive coordinator Wes Phillips signed his new deal, Flores possibly chose not to on the idea that he expects to be a top head coaching candidate after the season.
Rather than sign a multi-year deal to stay, then he ends up leaving, it's possible he chose to at least postpone signing a contract extension.
Not that it's the only endorsement he can or will get, but if Flores needs someone to vouch for his head coaching candidacy in the coming months, he doesn't need to look much further than Solak.