Vikings hire Brian Flores as defensive coordinator

DAVE CAMPBELL Associated Press/Minnesota Vikings
Brian Flores ( CBS Mornings / YouTube / MGN).

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Vikings have hired Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator. The Vikings are trying to revive a once-dominant unit that ranked among the NFL’s worst last season.

Flores was a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach this season for Pittsburgh. In that one season with the Steelers he led a defense that gave up just seven rushing touchdowns, which tied with New England for the fewest allowed in the NFL in 2022

He spent three years as head coach in Miami prior to that.

Flores, who is Black, was fired by the Dolphins. He then filed a class-action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination by the team and the NFL.

Flores was an assistant for eight seasons for New England’s defense before he went to Miami. From 2008-2009 he became a coaching assistant for the Patriots, where he crossed paths with head coach Kevin O’Connell, who played quarterback for the club in 2008.

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