Brian Flores Is Already Doing Brian Flores Things

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

It sounds like Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have a little bit of a summer rivalry.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is drawing kudos for his intense summer tendencies. Even Kevin O’Connell is impressed.

The two elite minds apparently duke it out with strategy in June, evidenced by O’Connell’s comments this week.

Via Vikings.com, onlookers learned this week about Flores’ exotic ways at minicamp.

Kevin O’Connell Comments on Brian Flores’ Summer Strategy

O’Connell told Lindsey Young last week that Flores “ran some stuff I didn’t even know was in there” at mandatory minicamp.

“Ryan Kelly turned to me and asked me how to target a run. I said, ‘Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea what they’re doing over there. And it was kind of Kelly’s first exposure, and they were just trying something out, using a specific grouping that we have not seen before,” O’Connell said.

Feb 15, 2023; Eagan, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell introduces new defensive coordinator B. Flores at the TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Minnesota Vikings.

“And that’s just Flo. I challenge him all the time to do those things, and then we’re doing the same thing on the offensive side, trying to take something that now some of our players are two, three years in on this play, so can we find nuances to it to give the players more ownership on either side of the ball?”

Vikings minicamp concluded last week.

O’Connell added, “That’s something that I’ve really felt both sides really stressing this year, is we know the systems, we kind of know the baseline of it, but here’s the next layer of it, where we want you guys to have that player ownership of it and maybe even the control of it, which has been really fun.”

“But it’s happening, and it’ll happen in training camp. I’m sure there’ll be one day when I’m mad at him, or he’s mad at me, and then we have a big ol’ hug after practice and move on. But our team is like that. Our offense and defense are like that. So, Flo’ and I, we wouldn’t be our authentic selves unless we were competing and trying to have the best of our team come out for the betterment of our team.”

Brian Flores Not Shy about Shaping the Vikings’ Defense as Early as Now

The Way It Should Be

Truth be told, this is exactly how an offensive and defensive thinker should act and react — surprised by one another and seeking an edge.

Dec 3, 2024; Eagan, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota defensive coordinator B. Flores speaks with reporters following the team’s 23-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Minnesota Vikings.

It’s a perfect summer and preseason blend for a team that won 14 games last season and one that hopes to take the enterprise to the next level in 2025 with a playoff win.

While O’Connell has posted the NFL’s sixth-best win percentage since his arrival in 2022, his team has not won a game in the postseason. It’s about a damn time.

Brian Flores’ Supreme Improvement for the Vikings’ Defense

Consider Flores’ impact on Minnesota’s defense. It’s no small endeavor.

Vikings Defense,
NFL Ranking,
Per DVOA:

2022 = 24th
2023 = 11th
2024= 2nd

Flores arrived in 2023 after former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell lost his job in the 2023 offseason. So, Flores boosted the group per DVOA 13 spots in his first year and nine more thereafter.

Newcomers This Offseason

The Vikings also welcomed new defensive faces this offseason, possibly enabling another improvement rung or at least a path to avoid regression.

Sep 12, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive linemen Fletcher Cox (91), Javon Hargrave (97), Brandon Graham (55), and Josh Sweat (94) celebrate a fourth-quarter sack of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah notably added these defensive players this offseason:

Jonathan Allen (DT)

Javon Hargrave (DT)

Isaiah Rodgers (CB)

Jeff Okudah (CB)

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (DT, Draft)

Before this offseason, the Vikings emphatically had not emphasized the DT spot in years.

Context from Kyle Joudry

Over at our partner site, PurplePTSD.com, Kyle Joudry added context to the O’Connell-Flores relationship.

He wrote, “Being able to confuse Ryan Kelly is impressive stuff. We’re talking about a nine-year veteran who was drafted in the 1st. He has since been honored as a second-team All Pro and be a Pro Bowl nominee four times. Getting something past him isn’t easy.”

“Even more impressive is outfoxing the head coach, who is the league’s reigning Coach of the Year. O’Connell is (like Flores) a sophisticated tactician, one who demands much from his players — especially the quarterbacks — when it comes to brain power. Flores can still trip him up from time to time, a good reminder that Minnesota’s coaching staff operates at a high level of football knowledge.”

Jul 25, 2024; Eagan, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores speaks to media during training camp at the TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Minnesota Vikings.

The two are evidently perfect for each other.

Joudry continued, “Also fascinating were the further reflections for what’s in store for training camp. Per Kevin O’Connell, there are going to be times when Brian Flores makes him pretty mad. And, in fairness, there are going to be times when O’Connell looks to return the favor. On Sundays, a chess match takes place. Rival teams seek to exploit Minnesota’s weaknesses while allowing their own talent to shine.”

“Meanwhile, Minnesota is looking to do likewise, attacking (real or perceived) weaknesses while attempting to allow the top talent to put together a great performance.”

Flores’ defense will get a whiff of the Chicago Bears’ offense 11 weeks from tonight when the regular season gets underway.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily … More about Dustin Baker