Bears HC candidate profile: Is now a bad time for Brian Flores?
The Chicago Bears' coaching search is underway, where the team is speaking to coaches from plenty of different backgrounds and avenues in the NFL, and even at the college level.
One intriguing name is Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who was also previously the head coach of the Miami Dolphins among his past jobs. At the end of the regular season, the Vikings ranked 16th in total defense, 28th in passing defense, but an outstanding second in total rushing defense. Flores has gained notoriety for his relentless blitzing style and ability to get in the face of opposing offenses and make life rough on them.
Here's an in-depth look at Flores, one of many candidates prepared to campaign for the head coaching vacancy in Chicago.
Background
Current job: Defensive coordinator, Minnesota Vikings
Age: 43
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
College: Boston College
Experience
Defensive coordinator, Minnesota Vikings (2023-Present)
Senior defensive assistant & linebackers coach, Pittsburgh Steelers (2022)
Head coach, Miami Dolphins (2019-2021)
Linebackers coach, New England Patriots (2016-2018)
Safeties coach, New England Patriots (2012-2015)
Defensive assistant, New England Patriots (2011)
Assistant offense & special teams coach, New England Patriots (2010)
Special teams assistant, New England Patriots (2008-2009)
Pro scout, New England Patriots (2006-2007)
Scouting assistant, New England Patriots (2004-2005)
Fit with Bears
His brash personality and aggressive coaching style makes Flores a wanted but tough candidate for NFL coaching vacancies. An attitude and culture adjustment is needed in the Bears locker room, but the background history of Flores comes into question more than anything. Having been criticized by former quarterbacks of his team, Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Fitzpatrick, with the former labeling him a "terrible person" in their time together, teams will have to consider the image he currently carries with him.
Flores also filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the NFL and teams in the league, including his former team the Dolphins for racial discrimination, looking to hold the NFL accountable for their treatment towards African American coaches. So long as that lawsuit hangs above Flores, it'll be difficult to see many doors opening at the head coaching level and the projected scrutiny that may follow a franchise who hires Flores to that role.
His fit in Chicago is not just based on his aggressive mindset as a defensive coach, which could get the Bears defense back to respectable status. He'd have to have the right systems in place from an offensive standpoint to put the right coaches around quarterback Caleb Williams. But Flores would bring the accountability and leadership the players in the locker room were looking for in this disappointing season.
They said it....
"Obviously he's super talented, but it's the QB mobility that stands out to me, the off-script plays. When you have a quarterback like that, every play, you could be in perfect position, perfect call, perfect technique, perfect fundamental, perfect leverage, and he spins out and next thing you know the ball is down the field to really good receivers."
--Brian Flores on what stands out the most to him in the ability of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (via Vikings.com)
Bottom line
Flores comes with plenty of hesitation from any franchise because of comments from his former players and the NFL lawsuit. He obviously has been respected enough to land roles with Pittsburgh and Minnesota since filing the lawsuit, but the question becomes which team wants to take the chance on bringing him as their head coach. He's undoubtedly turn the Vikings into a force on defense, but his personal image becomes the biggest question.
The Bears can not afford to take a chance on any risky candidate, whether it be a first-time head coach, or one that comes with a dark cloud over him. General manager Ryan Poles' job quite literally hangs in the balance of the next head coach he hires, and if there's bad results under Flores, and the dark cloud hanging above him, it could be the end of Poles' tenure in Chicago.
Flores would reestablish a tough and hard-hitting defense that is needed in Chicago, but at this time, it feels as if the Bears are best suited to look elsewhere instead of Flores. He may get another opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL, but it may take a bit more time than just two years since he filed his lawsuit, and it may not come until after everything with the league is settled.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC candidate profile: Is now a bad time for Brian Flores?