The Vikings on Monday announced they have hired Brian Flores as defensive coordinator.
Flores is joining Minnesota after spending 2022 as Senior Defensive Assistant/Linebackers Coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers and reconnecting with Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell nearly 15 years after they first overlapped with the Patriots.
In 2008, Flores was transitioning from work in New England’s pro scouting department to coaching, beginning as a special teams assistant when the Patriots drafted O’Connell, a QB, in the third round.
Flores helped in that role for two seasons before adding work with the offense in 2010 and shifting to defense in 2011. He was on the Patriots sidelines for 11 seasons (after four total in the scouting department).
