THE Minnesota Vikings are keeping a key member of their coaching staff – for now.
Brian Flores signed an extension to stay with the Vikings as defensive coordinator, the team announced on January 21.
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Flores is still a candidate for the position Pittsburgh Steelers‘ And Baltimore Ravens‘ vacant head coaching positions, and his new contract extension does not prevent him from accepting a position as head coach of either team. If the Steelers, Crows or another team hires Flores as head coach, Minnesota would have to find a new defensive coordinator.
Flores, 44, joined Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s staff as defensive coordinator ahead of the 2023 season. His contract with Minnesota expired at the end of the 2025 season, allowing him to sign on as defensive coordinator with any other team. Instead, he remains with the Vikings with a new contract extension unless he finds a head coaching job elsewhere.
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The length of Flores’ new contract in Minnesota has not yet been announced.
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During Flores’ first three seasons as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, the Vikings defense became one of the best units in the league. Minnesota fell from 30th in points allowed per game in 2022 (25.1) to 14th in Flores’ first season in 2023 (21.3), fifth in 2024 (19.5) and seventh (19.6) in 2025.
The Vikings also finished the 2025 season third in expected points added (EPA) per play allowed (-0.087) and sixth in success rate allowed (41.6%).
Minnesota’s pass defense was a particular strength in 2025, as Flores’ unit finished second in the NFL with an average of 158.5 passing yards allowed per game. According to a manager press release of the Vikings, this mark was the lowest by a Minnesota defense in a season since 1989 (156.3).
Three Vikings defenders earned Pro Bowl nominations for the first time in 2025 under Flores: cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard And Andrew Van Ginkel.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Brian Flores contract extension with Vikings: What it means
