The Vikings have built up a defense to the likings of Brian Flores and really need to do whatever it takes to keep him. The players acquired have likely involved heavy input from B-Flo. They would need to find a similar kind of coordinator if he left.
AI question of today …
vikings replacement options for brian flores
If the Vikings need to replace Brian Flores as defensive coordinator, potential candidates include internal option Mike Pettine and external hires like Brandon Staley, Robert Saleh, or Jerod Mayo.
Potential Replacements
Internal Candidates
Mike Pettine: The current Vikings assistant head coach has previous experience as a defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers and head coach for the Cleveland Browns. Promoting him would ensure continuity, though his defensive scheme is less blitz-heavy and typically a 4-3 base, different from Flores’ 3-4.
Daronte Jones: The defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach is an internal option the team could explore.
External Candidates
Brandon Staley: A strong logical candidate due to his relationship with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell from their time with the Rams. Staley was the Rams’ defensive coordinator when they had the NFL’s number one defense in 2020 and uses a 3-4 base defense that aligns with the Vikings’ current scheme.
Robert Saleh: Recently fired as the New York Jets head coach, Saleh transformed the Jets’ defense into a top-five unit in the league. He previously served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator and would be a top external candidate if Flores departs.
Jerod Mayo: The former New England Patriots head coach was let go after one year and is a respected defensive mind who could be a potential target.
Lou Anarumo: Known as one of the most respected defensive minds in the NFL, Anarumo’s defensive unit was a key factor in the Bengals’ recent postseason success.
Jim Leonhard: A former NFL safety and innovative play-caller who had consistently top-five defenses as the defensive coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers. The NFL has wanted to bring him in for a few seasons.
The Vikings are reportedly working to re-sign Flores, as he is in the final year of his contract and a highly valued coach.
Follow up question …
highest paid nfl defensive coordinators
Top NFL Defensive Coordinator Salaries
Salaries for NFL coordinators are not always publicly disclosed, but recent reports for the 2025 season indicate the top earners are:
Rank Coach Team Salary
1 Vic Fangio Philadelphia Eagles $4.5 million
2 Matt Eberflus Dallas Cowboys $4 million
3 Steve Spagnuolo Kansas City Chiefs $3.5 million
4 Todd Bowles Tampa Bay Buccaneers $3 million
5 Aden Durde Seattle Seahawks $2 million
Key Insights
Chip Kelly is the highest-paid overall coordinator in the NFL, earning $6 million per year as the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The average salary for an NFL coordinator is approximately $1 million per year, but top talent can command much higher pay, comparable to some head coaches.
NFL Highest-Paid Coaches 2025: Andy Reid Leads at $20M/Year
10 (tie). Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): $13 million
O’Connell’s new deal doubled his salary from the original contract he signed with the Vikings in 2022, three days after he helped the Rams win the Super Bowl as their offensive coordinator. His first season saw him tie Matt LaFleur and Jim Harbaugh for most wins by a rookie coach with 13. He topped that in 2024 with a 14-3 record and won the AP NFL Head Coach of the Year.
Another AI question ….
if a coordinator leaves an NFL team does that team get a compensatory pick
An NFL team does not automatically receive a compensatory pick every time a coordinator leaves. A special rule provides a compensatory draft pick only if a minority coach or executive is hired by another team as its head coach or primary football executive (general manager).
NFL Compensatory Pick Rules for Coaches
Minority Candidates: If a team loses a minority coach (or executive) who has been employed for a minimum of two years, and that individual is hired as a head coach or general manager by another NFL club, the original team receives a third-round compensatory pick in each of the next two drafts.
Multiple Hires: If a team loses two minority employees to head coach and/or general manager positions, they would receive a third-round compensatory pick for three consecutive seasons.
Other Coaches: There is no draft pick compensation for losing a non-minority coordinator or for a coordinator leaving for a lateral move (e.g., to be a coordinator for another team). The standard compensatory picks formula only applies to losing players in free agency.
Example: The Detroit Lions received a third-round compensatory pick in both the 2025 and 2026 drafts after their defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, a minority coach, was hired as the New York Jets’ head coach.
what if the coordinator’s contract expired
The NFL rule regarding compensatory draft picks for losing a minority coach to a head coaching or general manager position with another team applies regardless of whether the coordinator’s contract expired. The key requirements are:
The coach must be a minority candidate.
They must be hired as a head coach or general manager by another NFL club.
They must have been employed by the original team for a minimum of two years.
There must be no break in employment between the two teams.
what if the coordinator goes to be a coordinator with another team
A team does not receive a compensatory draft pick if a coordinator leaves to be a coordinator at another team. This is considered a lateral move, and teams can typically block such moves if the coach is under contract.
What would you offer Brian Flores to return as Defensive Coordinator?
Since it is not my money I would offer a 3 year 27M deal and an Assistant Head Coach title.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
During the Vikings’ current four-game win streak, the defense has allowed only one team to score more than 20 points. With this amazing former, NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms believes that defensive coordinator Brian Flores should get a shot at another head coaching job.
“Brian Flores just put on an absolute clinic,” Simms wrote on X on December 25. “Completely shut down Goff and [head coach Dan Campbell] and the Lions. Vikes threw for 51 yards and beat Detroit! How is BFlo not a head coach?!”
Goff also praised the Vikings’ defense, noting how their precise execution threw Detroit’s offense off balance and kept them from finding any rhythm.
“They did a good job on defense, had a good plan, and exploited some things on us,” Goff said postgame. “They were able to get after us, adding an extra rusher a lot of times. Whenever that happens, it’s a free rusher. They did a good job with that. We had a plan that we thought would attack that, and it didn’t work well enough.
“… We had some good third-down conversions. They came out in the second half and adjusted pretty well and had some different stuff for us. We didn’t do a good enough job on our side of adjusting to those different things that they were doing.”
…
One of the players who made life difficult for the Lions’ offense was Vikings veteran Harrison Smith. The Minnesota safety recorded three tackles along with one sack and one interception. After the contest, he spoke with Ben Leber postgame to talk about his performance.
“Today was one of the best defensive performances as a unit we’ve ever been a part of,” Smith said. “Guys were flying around. We were having fun. That’s what it’s about… Just our aggressiveness, the way [Flores] calls it, sets it up. It gives us some freedom to do some different things and keep them guessing.”
It will be interesting to see if this last game against the Packers is his last, as he’s 36, on an expiring $10.2 million contract, and has been the subject of retirement speculation for several offseasons.
“I can’t speak on that right now,” Smith told reporters postgame. “I’m a very much in-the-moment type of guy. So, I’m gonna enjoy this with the guys I’ve gone to work with, and enjoy my family and the holidays, and that’ll handle itself when it does.”
Flores, in his third season as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, is in the final year of his contract. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Vikings are currently working toward extending his deal.
The Vikings wanted to do it before the 2025 regular season. Flores decided to wait. If he was betting on himself, he won.
…
Without a new contract, Flores becomes free to join a new staff elsewhere. With a new contract, he’d remain eligible to leave for a head-coaching job elsewhere.
Whether and to what extent he’ll be a viable candidate for a second shot as a head coach remains to be seen. His pending arbitration and litigation against the NFL and multiple teams (Giants, Dolphins, Broncos, and Texans) will be a practical impediment — even if federal law mandates that it not be.
Cap Space Work
The Vikings have a lot of decisions to make to get under the cap and have a little room to add some free agents.
2025 carry over : $15,563,889
2026 Cap : ($35,983,572)
…
Extend O’Neill 3 yr 69M
Cut/Trade Hockenson
Cut/Trade Jones
Extend Hargrave (2 yr 16M)
Cut Kelly
Sign RB Travis Etienne RB 3 yr 27M
Sign CB Eric Stokes 3 yr 25.5M
Sign C Luke Fortner 3 yr 24M
…
2026 Cap : $17,465,317
2027 Cap : $6,688,273
…
2027 Potential Moves : Cut Allen & Metellus
2027 Cap : $32,533,273
Yore Mock
Pick 17. Sonny Styles LB Ohio State 6’5” 243Pick 48. Kamari Ramsey S USC 6’0” 205Pick 81. Lee Hunter DL Texas Tech 6’4” 330Pick 97. Keonte Scottt CB Miami 6’0” 194Pick 161. Brian Parker II OT Duke 6’5” 305Pick 199. Justin Joly TE NC State 6’3” 263Pick 233. Ted Hurst WR Georgia State 6’2” 194Pick 241. Adam Randall RB Clemson 6’2” 235
In this plan and mock, there is money leftover to add a veteran QB like Wentz for cheap. They could simply restructure a good part of Hockenson’s salary but that would cut into the 2027 cap space. Can they replace Hockenson with what they have on the roster? Maybe.
Hargrave already has 4M guaranteed in 2027 and you would eat 10.497M in dead money while saving 11M if you move on. But you would need to replace him. The contract I came up with saved 10.9M in cap space but added to the 2027 cap. I think 8M a year (similar to DaQuan Jones) is appropriate. Plus, Flores likes him and he does provide some of what Flores wants.
Fortner would start at center with Brandel (who I maybe should have extended here) backing him up along with Jurgens.
Etienne provides a nice compliment to Mason.
Stokes has had a good season and would hopefully be a nice addition to the CB room.
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