Flores Watch

Regarding Steelers head coaching job:
The betting market favors Chris Shula (39), who runs the Los Angeles Rams’ defense. Shula is actually the overwhelming favorite, with Flores (soon to be 44) in second, and former Green Bay Packers + Dallas Cowboys skipper Mike McCarthy in third place.

Still Curtain‘s Shayne Kubas noted on Shula this week, “Shula checked all the right boxes even before his impressive coaching job on Sunday. He is a young (39), defensive-minded coach coming from an established coaching tree, having been with Sean McVay in LA since the beginning of McVay’s career there back in 2017. He has risen through the ranks all the way to being the DC the past two seasons, where he has taken a flawed defensive roster and coached them into a solid unit.”

“Forcing turnovers has been what Shula’s defenses have been best at in his two seasons as DC, forcing 46 combined over that time. The Steelers’ defense has put a premium on forcing turnovers as well, making him a seamless fit. Some fans may want to focus on playing lockdown defense, opposed to just gunning for turnovers, but they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

So, while the smoke for Flores to Pittsburgh is real, oddmakers believe Shula, not Flores, probably has a fast track to take over. If that happens, and Flores does not land the Ravens’ vacant head coaching job, he would presumably return to Minnesota for a fourth season.

It’s worth noting that if Shula is “the guy,” the process will linger until the Rams’ season concludes. Los Angeles will play the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship this weekend.

https://vikingsterritory.com/2026/news/top_news/brian-flores-second-interview

There has never been a year with more vacancies at head coach. If Flores doesn't get a HC job this year, it may never happen.

MaroonBells wrote:
There has never been a year with more vacancies at head coach. If Flores doesn't get a HC job this year, it may never happen.

Or until his lawsuit is settled...

But yah, it's crazy the # of spots and with some pretty big brand organizations too. 

We're not just talking the Titans or Browns level of franchises this year.

Per @DKSportsbook, Flores is no longer the favorite for any open HC position. Despite being +150 (1st) a week ago, Flores is +450 (5th) for the Raiders job. Flores was also +400 (2nd) for the Steelers position but is now +600 (3rd).

MaroonBells wrote:
Per @DKSportsbook, Flores is no longer the favorite for any open HC position. Despite being +150 (1st) a week ago, Flores is +450 (5th) for the Raiders job. Flores was also +400 (2nd) for the Steelers position but is now +600 (3rd).

Listening to KFan on the way home tonight and both talking wonks dont see how Flores doesnt get an offer with what's out there for openings.  I tend to agree as him not getting a shot this year almost screams owner collusion and would seem to strengthen his lawsuit wouldnt it?

Why are teams still enamored with Mike McCarthy?

JimmyinSD wrote:

Listening to KFan on the way home tonight and both talking wonks dont see how Flores doesnt get an offer with what's out there for openings.  I tend to agree as him not getting a shot this year almost screams owner collusion and would seem to strengthen his lawsuit wouldnt it?

There were 10 HC openings, Flores hasn't interviewed for 8 of them. That fact doesn't scream hot commodity. Still, it only takes one. But I also wonder if some of these interviews might not be performative for the Rooney rulers. Either way, I hope the Vikings at least have a handshake agreement with Daronte Jones if Flores does indeed move on.

MaroonBells wrote:

There were 10 HC openings, Flores hasn't interviewed for 8 of them. That fact doesn't scream hot commodity. Still, it only takes one. But I also wonder if some of these interviews might not be performative for the Rooney rulers. Either way, I hope the Vikings at least have a handshake agreement with Daronte Jones if Flores does indeed move on.

Thats the issue with the Rooney rule in the first place, which I think should be eliminated to avoid situations like the Flores lawsuit all together. I mean, in today's day and age...does anybody honestly think NFL franchises are not going to hire the absolute best candidates possible to win regardless of race? I don't. The Rooney rule was probably a good idea when it was brought into play, but like most things, it's outlived it's intent and only causes issues now as nobody wants "token" interviews because of their race. I know why, but it's surprising the owners aren't trying to eliminate it altogether.

supafreak84 wrote:

Thats the issue with the Rooney rule in the first place, which I think should be eliminated to avoid situations like the Flores lawsuit all together. I mean, in today's day and age...does anybody honestly think NFL franchises are not going to hire the absolute best candidates possible to win regardless of race? I don't. The Rooney rule was probably a good idea when it was brought into play, but like most things, it's outlived it's intent and only causes issues now as nobody wants "token" interviews because of their race. I know why, but it's surprising the owners aren't trying to eliminate it altogether.

I agree with you Supa...but the league would be torched for eliminating the Rooney rule...or eliminating the "Black National Anthem" or racial messages  on uniforms, etc.  There is no middle ground, common sense anymore on DEI/Racial issues.  The rule as it stands frankly has now become a burden to Black candidates but the league isn't about to touch it.

For Flores, I like him a lot as a DC but is he really head coach material?  Miami didn't think so obviously.  He's never overwhelming in a press conference to me.  He comes off very Belichek like at times.  I wonder how he is in an interview process.

purplefaithful wrote:
Why are teams still enamored with Mike McCarthy?

Big Mike becoming the first Steeler coach in 300 years to get canned after 1 or 2 seasons will be something hilarious and magical.

purplefaithful wrote:
Why are teams still enamored with Mike McCarthy?

.608 winning % over 18 years and a SB win.  Harbaugh and Tomlin have very similar records and are considered hot commodities.

StickierBuns wrote:

McCarthy is criminally underrated.....and he's a native Pittsburgh guy, I believe.

Yup.  Fun fact: years ago he worked in a tollbooth on the Pennsylvania turnpike.

I thought Flores's only real shot for HC was Pittsburgh....but I see they are bringing in Mike McCarthy tomorrow for an interview.
Pretty late to the process, which makes me think they don't absolutely love who they've talked to already. Could be wrong.

[quote="comet52" pid="267847" dateline="1768930898"]

.608 winning % over 18 years and a SB win.  Harbaugh and Tomlin have very similar records and are considered hot commodities.
[/quote]

McCarthy is criminally underrated.....and he's a native Pittsburgh guy, I believe.

Re-signed with Minnesota per ESPN

CFIAvike wrote:
Re-signed with Minnesota per ESPN

Excellent! One less thing to worry about

StickierBuns wrote:

McCarthy is criminally underrated.....and he's a native Pittsburgh guy, I believe.

I'm definitely someone who's underrating him I guess.

He wasn't great in Dallas and got basically zero interest from any team hiring head coaches that aren't looking to piggyback off the hometown slant.

Pittsburgh hiring Big Mike would be like when Tampa hired Lovie Smith. Probably not a disaster or anything, but I'd have low expectations for the team. They also have the minor conundrum of having no quarterback whatsoever and middling skill players on offense.

Frankly, they'd be dumb to hire him over Flores in my opinion. Which is why I hope they do hah.

pattersaur wrote:

I'm definitely someone who's underrating him I guess.

He wasn't great in Dallas and got basically zero interest from any team hiring head coaches that aren't looking to piggyback off the hometown slant.

Pittsburgh hiring Big Mike would be like when Tampa hired Lovie Smith. Probably not a disaster or anything, but I'd have low expectations for the team. They also have the minor conundrum of having no quarterback whatsoever and middling skill players on offense.

Frankly, they'd be dumb to hire him over Flores in my opinion. Which is why I hope they do hah.

McCarthy isn't getting that job if you look at the history of who the Steelers have hired in the past. They've been young, relatively unknown defensive minded head coaches, of which McCarthy is none. The Rams DC Shula has to be the odds on favorite with Flores probably being the second choice

comet52 wrote:

.608 winning % over 18 years and a SB win.  Harbaugh and Tomlin have very similar records and are considered hot commodities.

StickierBuns wrote:

McCarthy is criminally underrated.....and he's a native Pittsburgh guy, I believe.

Meh....

Its probably my anti-GB bias, but he's over-rated imo..Most of his career was with Favre + Rogers (in their primes) and I saw how those same GB teams fall on their faces when he couldn't trot them out on the field. 

He under-performed in Big D. 

Either way, I dont think he's the lead horse for Pitt or they would have hired him already. Are the Rooneys waiting for someone still coaching in the playoffs????

I guess Petine is not a Flores fan....

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/former-vikings-assistant-mike-pettine-brian-flores-and-i-didnt-see-eye-to-eye

Mike Pettine retired last week after a long coaching career, most recently as assistant head coach of the Vikings. In Minnesota, he worked alongside defensive coordinator Brian Flores. And Pettine did not enjoy that experience.

Interviewed on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show, Pettine was asked what his thoughts are on Flores as a head-coaching candidate.

“Probably not many that I would prefer to share,” Pettine said.

Pettine then elaborated that he and Flores were not on the same page, and that Pettine, who had previously been a defensive coach, began working with the Vikings’ offense because he didn’t work well with Flores.

“I mean we didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, and that’s why I spent this past year on offense. I was there in ’23 and ’24 on defense.”

Ultimately, Pettine declined to say much about Flores.

“I’ll take the high road on that one,” Pettine said.

Flores remains a candidate for some NFL head-coaching jobs. It’s safe to say he won’t be listing Pettine as a reference.