Minnesota Vikings, DC Brian Flores agree to new contract

The Minnesota Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have agreed to a new contract, The Insiders’ Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday night.

While a new contract has been agreed to, Flores remains a candidate for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens’ head coaching vacancies. Per Pelissero, Flores will indeed stay put in Minnesota if he does not land one of those jobs.

The Vikings have signed defensive coordinator Brian Flores to a new contract, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

Flores is still a candidate with the Steelers and Ravens head coaching jobs. But if he doesn’t land one of those, he’ll stay in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/RAPKF9kZkR

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 22, 2026

Flores, who previously coached the Miami Dolphins from 2019-2021, has spent the past three seasons as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. Over that span, the Vikings have gone 30-22 with one postseason appearance (a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFC Wild Card Game). This past season, Minnesota ranked third in the NFL in yards allowed per game (282.6) and seventh in points allowed per game (19.6).

“I think he’s more than deserving (of earning a head coaching job) with everything he’s brought to our organization over these last three years,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said during his exit press conference on Jan. 13. “Not surprised people are wanting to talk to him about that role. Excited for him to do so, all while knowing our No. 1 priority — really before the season even ended — our No. 1 priority has been to get that thing done with him.”

During this season’s coaching carousel, four hirings have already been made. The Miami Dolphins hired former Green Bay Packers DC Jeff Hafley, the New York Giants hired former Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh, the Atlanta Falcons hired former Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski, and the Tennessee Titans hired former San Francisco 49ers DC Robert Saleh.

This leaves head coaching vacancies across six different organizations — the Arizona Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Flores could certainly be a candidate for one of these jobs, for now, he will remain in Minnesota for his fourth season as it’s defensive coordinator.