The Dallas Cowboys are a draw to players and coaches across the NFL, even when they are not winning at a high level, which makes the franchise an ever-present threat to poach talent from around the league.
Mike Florio of Pro Football talk recognized that point of fact on Sunday, December 28, when he dubbed Dallas as a top candidate to persuade Brian Flores to leave his post as defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings and come to the aid of what has been a struggling Cowboys defense for much of 2025.
“Dallas seems to be destined to fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after a disastrous reunion year,” Florio wrote. “(Never mind the fact that owner/GM Jerry Jones traded the defense’s best player 10 days before Week 1.) And the increasing chatter in league circles is that the Cowboys will be firmly in play for Flores.”
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Flores came up with the New England Patriots under legendary head coach and defensive schemer Bill Belichick. Flores earned a record of 24-25 as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins between 2019-21, spent a year as a defensive coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers and joined the Vikings ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Over his past three seasons in Minneapolis, Flores has developed a reputation as perhaps the sport’s most innovative scheme author, particularly with regard to exotic blitz packages that create pressure and turnovers in unique ways.
Florio reported on Saturday that the Vikings are attempting to extend Flores and wanted to get a deal done during last offseason, though Flores passed on that opportunity.
“The Vikings wanted to do it before the 2025 regular season. Flores decided to wait,” Florio wrote. “If he was betting on himself, he won.”
Minnesota boasts the league’s ninth-best scoring defense (tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars), allowing just 20.6 points per game. The Vikings are even better with regards to yardage defense, affording opposing offenses only 292.7 yards per contest, which is good enough for sixth place in the NFL most of the way through Week 17.
Flores may have opportunities to take a head coaching job this offseason, with potentially eight teams looking for a new sideline leader. If he doesn’t land one of those positions, a return to Minnesota or a new challenge as the Dallas DC are among the most likely outcomes.
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