After losing a coaching candidate to the Patriots, the New York Jets may still pursue someone with ties to New England.
On Friday, the Jets announced they interviewed Brian Flores for their head coaching vacancy, making him the 13th candidate considered for the role. Flores, currently the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, is regarded as one of the top assistants in this hiring cycle. He is also scheduled to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears in the coming days.
Last week, Flores, 43, expressed interest in the Patriots’ head coaching position, calling it a significant opportunity tied to his football roots. However, the Patriots bypassed Flores and hired Mike Vrabel after interviewing him earlier this month.
The Jets now appear to be focusing on another member of Bill Belichick’s coaching tree. Flores began his career under Belichick in 2004 as a scout and worked his way up the ranks, transitioning to coaching in 2008. He contributed to various units, including special teams, offense, and defense. By 2018, he was effectively serving as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator, leading the defense that secured a historic 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Following that success, Flores became head coach of the Miami Dolphins, compiling a 24-25 record over three seasons before being dismissed in 2022. That same year, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL and multiple teams, alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices.
After his tenure in Miami, Flores worked as a linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Vikings as defensive coordinator in 2023. Under his leadership, Minnesota’s defense ranked fifth in scoring during the past season.
