Thanks largely to Brian Flores' defense, the Minnesota Vikings are 6-0. The idea of Flores as a top head-coaching candidate in the upcoming hiring cycle isn't new. If not for an ongoing lawsuit against the league and several teams, he would surely have gotten his second chance as a head coach already.
When NFL reporter Benjamin Allbright was asked for a short list of potential candidates for the New York Jets’ head coaching job, he offered four names as pressure on Aaron Glenn continues to mount following a Week 7 loss to the Miami Dolphins that dropped his overall record to 5-19.
Flores was one, naturally, but another Vikings assistant also garnered mention.
Wes Phillips, Nate Scheelhaase, Eric Bieniemy, Brian Flores
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) October 26, 2026
This is where we should say there's probably a level of "in no particular order" to Allbright's short list of late-October candidates for the Jets' potential head coaching opening. But it is kind of interesting that Phillips was mentioned first, before Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and Flores.
Wes Phillips would be an incredibly New York Jets-esque head coaching candidate/hire
It's obviously not a strict disqualifier from being a candidate for any head coaching job, but the 47-year-old Phillips has never been a head coach. He followed Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell from the Rams to Minnesota to be O'Connell's offensive coordinator in 2022, but he has, of course, not called plays outside of some preseason run doing so.
Amid the offense's current struggles, it's worth wondering if O'Connell will consider giving up play-calling. While it's unlikely, if he did, Phillips would be the top candidate to take over. If that happened, it would be a proverbial resume builder for a potential head coaching candidacy.
A critical tentacle about the Jets' head coaching job, should it be open for 2027, is the appeal of the gig. They don't have a long-term answer at quarterback right now, and owner Woody Johnson has been, let's say, difficult to work for. Any head coaching candidate with options, or without a past tie to the organization like Glenn has, is not going to choose the Jets.
Within the ownership angle regarding the Jets' job, again, if it were to be open, Flores had a rumored conflict with Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross during his first head coaching job. Among the reported issues were allegations that Ross wanted the Dolphins to tank during one season, and Flores wouldn't do it.
The Jets interviewed Flores before hiring Glenn in 2025, so there's a bit of direct history there too. Glenn was the easily anointed candidate to become the head coach of the team that drafted him as a player, so the interview with Flores may not have been overly meaningful.
It's also safe to assume, to put it in a certain parlance, Flores just doesn't want the aggravation that comes with being the Jets' head coach.
While he turned down a chance to interview for an offensive coordinator post that would've included play-calling after his first year with the Vikings, Phillips has never interviewed for a head coaching job.
It's hard to see teams with a head coaching opening after the season clamoring to hire Phillips, but the equation can change. Time will tell if being loosely connected to the potential opening with the Jets, at a very, very early stage, ultimately means anything.
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