Kevin O’Connell says Vikings have been ‘really aggressive’ in push to retain DC Brian Flores

The Vikings are still in negotiations with defensive coordinator Brian Flores as the clock ticks down on their time to finalize a contract before other teams can make their pitches.

Typically, there is an exclusive 10-day negotiation window after the end of the season for a team to renew contracts with coordinators and assistant coaches. The Vikings’ window with Flores — if his current contract, which expires this offseason, indeed includes such language — would presumably close later this week. Although the sides could still reach an agreement after the window closes, he would be allowed to interview for lateral jobs with other organizations.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said during his end-of-season news conference Tuesday, Jan. 13, that the organization has “been really aggressive” in trying to retain Flores, who has been with them since 2023. O’Connell also acknowledged a desire to be supportive, particularly as Flores pursues a potential return to a head coaching job.

Flores is allowed to interview for head coaching positions within the 10-day window.

The Baltimore Ravens, who fired John Harbaugh after a Week 18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that eliminated them from playoff contention, announced they had interviewed Flores on Jan. 13.

“I think he’s more than deserving, everything he’s brought to our organization over these last three years,” O’Connell said. “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.”

O’Connell said he doesn’t read into the fact that a deal has not been done yet despite the high priority, making an analogy to free agency and how some players test the market to determine their worth.

While Flores expressed gratitude for his time in Minnesota during his final in-season news conference, he did not make a definitive statement on whether he would like to return for the 2026 season and beyond.

Should negotiations between the Vikings and Flores fail to finalize, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Jan. 13 that he wouldn’t expect more than the typical level of scheme and personnel churn in finding a replacement, despite some of Flores’ quirkier play-calling and schematic tendencies.

“He is unique, and he does have a unique play style, but if you really look down deep, what does Flo value?” Adofo-Mensah said. “Versatility, physicality, the things that matter in good defensive football ... that everybody values. Flo kind of takes those pieces and puts it together in an artwork that’s different than most, but the core colors that are a part of that painting, a lot of people share those same things.”

O’Connell said Jan. 13 that he had no “concrete updates or plans” regarding changes to his coaching staff.

But as in other recent coaching cycles, current Vikings assistants and ones who departed the organization recently are attracting attention from other teams.

Jones interviewed last year for the defensive coordinator positions with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears.

Flores mentioned Jones as someone he believes is primed to be a coordinator, the same day he commended safeties coach Michael Hutchings for his hiring as Cal’s defensive coordinator. Jones has been a college defensive coordinator twice, including at the Power 4 level at LSU.

Former Vikings quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski, the current Jaguars offensive coordinator, has been requested by the Cleveland Browns to interview for their head coaching job, according to a report.

O’Connell said in 2024 he wouldn’t be surprised if Udinski was “on a pretty skyrocketed timeline” ascending in the coaching ranks.

O’Connell announced that assistant head coach Mike Pettine is retiring.

“What a career he has had,” said O’Connell, going on to cite more of Pettine’s specific impact on him as a coach.

Pettine was the defensive coordinator for the Jets (2009-12) when O’Connell briefly spent time there during his playing career, and Pettine hired O’Connell to his Browns staff as a quarterbacks coach in 2015, the second year of Pettine’s two-season tenure as head coach.

Pettine also spent time in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills (DC, 2013), Green Bay Packers (DC, 2018-20) and Bears (defensive assistant, 2021).