Although we are still a week away from Black Monday, the first set of serious sparks are starting to be emitted from the NFL rumor-mill ahead of the multiple coaching vacancies that will come to light at the end of the season.
With the dearth of true high-level head coaching candidates coming forth, the focus could end up being more on outgoing coordinator jobs, where there could end up being far more musical chairs situation.
And for the Dallas Cowboys, one coach who many fans would like to see replaced is former Chicago Bears head coach and current defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus.
Eberflus has lead the Cowboys to 30th in total defense, behind only the pass rush-less Commanders and Bengals, and dead last (32nd) in scoring defense (total points allowed).
So one candidate that was speculated to be a fit for Dallas is none other than Minnesota Vikings DC and ex Dolphins head coach, Brian Flores. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested that Flores could end up being the subject of a bidding war between the Vikings and Cowboys to be their new defensive coordinator.
However, NFL insider, Josina Anderson, shot down that idea rather quickly on X – with a fairly clear argument.
“Why would Brian Flores leave one defensive coordinator job, for another job with the same title? Vikings would match any pay raise.” Anderson wrote on Sunday, ending her post with an exasperated, “Come on yâall.”
Would Brian Flores Leave Minnesota For A Non-Head Coaching Job?
If Flores does not get a head coaching job for next season, it would be a little strange to see him move roles, particularly as he has almost full control over the defensive side of the ball, with Kevin O’Connell an offensive-minded head coach who extends most of his focus onto the offense.
The Cowboys do have a higher floor offensively with Dak Prescott; and they also have multiple first round picks in the 2026 draft, which could allow them to invest in a much-needed high-end edge rusher, and perhaps a high level addition to the secondary.
But ultimately, it would take some serious convincing or a clear, material change with his status in Minnesota for Flores to jump ship without getting a promotion to HC.
Brian Flores Could Be A Big Name In The 2026 Hiring Cycle
Flores was fired from his head coaching gig in Miami after the 2021, despite having achieved winning records in his final two seasons, having turned around a team that essentially void of talent at the start of his rookie head coaching year in 2019. Although, perhaps notably, he failed to make the playoffs in each of his three years at the helm.
After a very public lawsuit that alleged racial discrimination towards hiring black coaches, and claimed that Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross, had offered him a $100,000 per game bribe to “tank” and lose in order to secure a higher draft pick in the 2020 NFL draft, in which the team ultimately selected quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, there have been concerns that individual franchise owners may not want Flores in such a powerful role within their organizations.
But after what he has managed to achieve with the Vikings defense, which finished 6th in total defense in 2025, there may well be owners willing to overlook the past.
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