Brian Flores inadvertently fuels Cowboys Nation's hopes to see him as defensive coordinator in 2026

With Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus being on the hot seat, a large portion of the fanbase has become obsessed with one man who could bring one of the most fun defensive schemes to town: Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores.

Flores—who is on an expiring deal in Minnesota—is expected to be a hot asset this offseason and a head coaching candidate. And while a "lateral" move from a coordinator position to another is uncommon, Flores inadvertently fueled Cowboys Nation's hopes during a press conference on Monday.

Flores sounds very non-committal to the Vikings

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Flores addressed reports about his "talks" with the Vikings before the imminent end of his deal. The Vikings DC was very non-committal about his future in Minnesota, while acknowledging there's a business side to his situation.

"I said this many times, I've loved my time here in Minnesota," Flores said. "My family loves it, the state of Minnesota has been tremendous to me, (HC Kevin O'Connell) mentioned there's been great dialogue, and there has. Now we'll just let the club and my representation handle the rest."

Asked if he wanted to "come back" to Minnesota, Flores again said he loves Minnesota but noted things have to line up.

"If everything lines up and it fits—from a football standpoint, it fits," Flores said. "I think there's always a businness part of this. The football all lines up. We'll just see where it all goes."

That doesn't sound just like a coach who is only seeking a head coaching opportunity but rather a coach who is open to anything, even being a defensive coordinator elsewhere.

Now granted, Flores is in the middle of talks with the Vikings. Of course he's going to be non-committal. After all, negotiations are all about leverage and his representation surely knows what he's worth right now. His defenses have been successful for many years, his head coaching tenure with the Miami Dolphins came to an end after back-to-back winning seasons, and the Vikings currently rank fourth in the NFL in EPA/play allowed.

Cowboys Nation should temper its expectations

With all of the above being said, Cowboys fans would be wise to not get their hopes up. Is it possible? Sure. But it's very unlikely.

For starters, lateral moves aren't that common. Not to mention, Flores wants to be a head coach, and the shortest path to that goal would be sticking with the defense the Vikings have helped him build—while allowing his input to play a major role in team-building. To start anew with the talent-depleted Cowboys defense would be a risky career move.

Some have argued the attention the Cowboys command could be enticing for Flores. But to be frank, everyone who matters in the NFL knows perfectly well who Flores is. For on and off-the-field reasons—Flores sued the NFL in 2022.

Ultimately, if Jerry Jones wants to pursue Flores, it's clear what he needs to do. Throw money into the table. Lots, and lots of it. Is he desperate enough to fix the Cowboys defense to reach a magic number that would work for Flores? Would the Vikings be willing to match that hypothetical number knowing the high-powered offenses that exist in the NFC North? Will no NFL teams offer him a head coaching job?

That's a lot of question marks. Sure, we can't rule it out. But I'm certain it will take a lot for Flores to be wearing the Star on his hat come the 2026 NFL season.

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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Dec 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.