Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores probably doesn’t look back on his time with the Miami Dolphins fondly.
He was surprisingly fired as Miami’s head coach following the 2021 NFL season, with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross implying that organizational strife — later identified as tensions between Flores and general manager Chris Grier, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and others — led them to part ways with the coach they initially viewed as a culture-setter.
Flores went on to file a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, alleging racial discrimination around the league. The Dolphins were mentioned as allegedly offering to pay Flores $100,000 per loss in 2019, effectively asking him to tank the season for a better draft pick.
Oh, how times have changed for the better since Flores joined the Vikings in 2023. Minnesota has been thriving on defense, especially during the team’s perfect start to this 2024 season. Through the first five games, the Vikes have forced 13 turnovers (2nd in the NFL), amassed 20 sacks (2nd), and are allowing just 4.4 third-down conversions per game (tied for 13th).
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Speaking of his history in Miami, the scouting department for Bleacher Report believes Flores could be reunited with one of his favorite draft prospects during the NFL's next free agency cycle.
Bleacher Report named safety Jevon Holland, one of Flores’ former Dolphins players who has offered public support since his firing, as a potential addition to the Vikings’ defense in 2025. Here was the site’s take on the move:
Starting safeties Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum are impending free agents, meaning Minnesota will likely be looking for some help in its defensive backfield this spring. The organization is also currently projected to have $76 million of cap space available during free agency, per Over The Cap
Holland will likely be one of the top players available at the position. He doesn't turn 25 until March and has racked up over 250 total tackles, 22 passes defended, five forced fumbles and five interceptions during his career through Week 4 of 2024.
Assuming Flores sticks around the Twin Cities as a coordinator a while longer, this move feels like a no-brainer for the Vikings. Flores loved Holland’s versatility coming out of Oregon, where he played both high safety and nickel, and it’s clear the respect between the coach and his former No. 36 overall pick is mutual:
Flo was apart of the reason I got drafted making my lifelong dream come true. I got nothing but love for him! https://t.co/AXSar8oez3
— Jev (@quickdrawjev) February 7, 2023
The Vikings will have other needs to address in 2025, such as interior offensive and defensive line, and cornerback. But snagging a player Flores once hand-picked for his scheme as a head coach makes a ton of sense as one of the NFL’s best defenses continues to evolve in Minnesota.
