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During this four-game win streak, the Minnesota Vikings‘ defense has played a significant role. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his team have only allowed one team to score over 20 points in this run.
On December 27, NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio reported, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, that the Vikings are currently working toward extending Flores’ deal. He is currently in his third season as the team’s defensive coordinator and is in the final year of his contract.
The Vikings wanted to finalize it before the 2025 regular season, but Flores opted to wait. That decision worked in Flores’ favor. Without a new deal, Flores would have been free to join another staff. Nonetheless, even with an extension in place, Florio’s reporting adds that Flores would still be able to pursue a head-coaching job elsewhere.
With Minnesota looking to hold onto Flores, former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber sent a short message to the front office in response to this latest report.
“Do whatever it takes,” Leber wrote on December 27 on X.
Brian Flores Called an Amazing Game for the Vikings
Flores put on a play-calling masterclass for the entire NFL world to see on Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions. Minnesota’s defense created constant chaos, forcing six turnovers with two interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Jared Goff was sacked five times, and the Lions struggled to move the ball, averaging just 3.6 yards per snap.
After the win over their NFC North rival, Lions quarterback Jared Goff praised the Vikings’ defense, noting how their precise execution threw Detroit’s offense off balance and kept them from finding any rhythm in that game on December 25.
“They did a good job on defense, had a good plan, and exploited some things on us,” Goff said postgame. “They were able to get after us, adding an extra rusher a lot of times. Whenever that happens, it’s a free rusher. They did a good job with that. We had a plan that we thought would attack that, and it didn’t work well enough.
“… We had some good third-down conversions. They came out in the second half and adjusted pretty well and had some different stuff for us. We didn’t do a good enough job on our side of adjusting to those different things that they were doing.”
Brian Flores Back to Be an NFL Head Coach
Coming off a fantastic performance against the Lions, NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms believes that Flores should get a shot at another head coaching job.
“Brian Flores just put on an absolute clinic,” Simms wrote on X on December 25. “Completely shut down Goff and [head coach Dan Campbell] and the Lions. Vikes threw for 51 yards and beat Detroit! How is BFlo not a head coach?!”
If the Vikings close out this 2025 NFL season on a five-game win streak, it will be interesting to see if any team with a head coaching position takes a serious look at Flores. Nonetheless, if no vacancy makes sense for him, a pay raise as a defensive coordinator with either Minnesota or another team would not be a bad consolation prize.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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