Brian Flores still finds joy running the Vikings defense after being passed over for head coach jobs
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings were in full-team drills during minicamp on Thursday, when an unexpected pre-snap alignment by the defense prompted new center Ryan Kelly to ask coach Kevin O'Connell about the call he should make for blocking that play.
'Your guess is as good as mine,' O'Connell told Kelly, as he later recounted to reporters. 'I've got no idea what they're doing over there.'
Yes, that's the Brian Flores effect on the Vikings offense, a recurring and welcomed feature of practice against one of the NFL 's most aggressively experimental defensive coordinators.
'It must've been pretty close to the end of the offseason program, because today he ran some stuff that I didn't even know was in there,' O'Connell said. 'That's Flo. I challenge him all the time to do those things.'
The mad scientist behind the shape-shifting and fast-moving scheme is back for his third season with the Vikings, a pleasant surprise of sorts for a team that figured he'd have landed another head coach position by now. Flores interviewed for vacancies with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets in January, but he was passed over by all three clubs.
'Being able to sit in that interview setting and have a conversation for that role is obviously an honor, and those jobs went to guys who were certainly deserved,' Flores said. 'It was a great experience, and I enjoyed it. I'm also very happy to be right where I am.'
Flores, who was fired by the Miami Dolphins after three seasons as their head coach from 2019-21, still has a racial discrimination lawsuit pending against the league in response to losing that job. But if there's any bitterness Flores is harboring, he's hiding it well. Since O'Connell hired him in 2023, he has embraced this experience with the Vikings and all that has come with it for him and his family.
The Vikings ranked fifth in the league in scoring defense last season after finishing 14th the year before. They were 28th in 2022 before he arrived. Successful spending in free agency helped enhance the depth chart, but Flores has also helped turn unheralded players such as safety Josh Metellus and linebacker Ivan Pace into key contributors.
Last season, the Vikings tied for the league lead with 33 takeaways, leading to a steady stream of on-field celebrations.
'My joy comes from watching them have excitement,' Flores said.
The frequent use of Metellus as an inside linebacker or an edge rusher was one way Flores has used unorthodox schemes to take advantage of his players' quickness — of body and mind — and keep the opponent constantly guessing. On some third downs, in another example, he'd fill the line with stand-up pass rushers.
Spring practice is the time to tinker. Flores, in regular conversation with safety Harrison Smith, linebacker Blake Cashman or defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, is never afraid to try a new look. Why not see if it can work?
'He's always trying to evolve. He's always trying to be one step ahead,' edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel said. 'That's one thing I love about him.'
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant parts ways with Mike Miller's agency, Lift Sports Management
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has parted ways with Lift Sports Management, multiple sources told The Commercial Appeal on June 12. The sources were granted anonymity since no official announcement has been made. Advertisement The Lift Sports Management list of clients no longer includes Morant, who was listed on the website as recently as May 16. Morant joined Lift, an agency headed by former Grizzlies player Mike Miller, in April 2024. Miller became a regular at Grizzlies home games this season, usually seated courtside alongside of Morant's father, Tee Morant. Morant and Miller could not be reached for comment for this story. Ja Morant previously joined Lift after parting ways with Jim Tanner of Tandem Sports + Entertainment. Morant spent his first five NBA seasons being represented by Tanner. After becoming the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Morant quickly became a star NBA point guard in Memphis. He won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, then won the league's Most Improved award in his third season. Advertisement The success led to Morant earning his own signature shoe, becoming Nike Basketball's first Gen Z athlete. However, Morant's journey hasn't been all peaches and rainbows. He was first suspended in March 2023 after brandishing a gun in an Instagram Live video. Two months later, a second Instagram Live video surfaced online of Morant brandishing a gun. He received a 25-game suspension at the start of the 2023-24 season. Morant made two All-Star games in 2022 and 2023. Injuries and the lengthy aforementioned suspension shortened his 2023-24 campaign. He averaged 23.2 points and 7.3 assists in 50 regular season games with the Grizzlies this season. Ja Morant, Grizzlies remain strong All indications are that the relationship between the Grizzlies and Morant remains strong. Memphis hired Tuomas Iisalo as its next coach when the season ended. Morant spoke highly of Iisalo before the hiring, and his stats improved when Iisalo took over in place of former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. Advertisement The Grizzlies have also continued to prioritize Morant as a franchise cornerstone. Morant signed a five-year extension worth $197 million in July 2022. He'll be eligible for a two-year extension this summer, but he has three seasons remaining on his current contract. What's next for Ja Morant Morant could look to partner with another agency that best represents his goals. Another option for the Grizzlies star is self representation. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently parted ways with Wasserman to represent himself. Joel Embiid is another NBA star who also went the self representation route. Advertisement Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant parts ways with Lift Sports Agency
National Post
2 days ago
- National Post
Swift, Kelce rub elbows with Gretzky during Game 4 of Stanley Cup final
Article content SUNRISE, Fla. — There was bad blood at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. Article content And not just on the ice. Article content Pop superstar Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce were among the celebrities who flocked to Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday to watch Game 4 of the final — with the Bad Blood singer seen holding hands with Kelce as they headed to their seats. Article content Kelce, a Super Bowl-winning tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is a known hockey fan along with his brother Jason Kelce. And since Swift and Kelce began their high-profile romance in 2023, the 14-time Grammy Award-winning singer has been known to pop in on big sporting events — including the last two Super Bowls — and cause an excited frenzy for fans. Article content Article content There were rumblings ahead of Thursday's game that the couple might attend the final. Article content A helicopter landed near Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., ahead of the game. The VIP entrance to the area was also closed off and the media elevator was not available to be used for a period of time before pregame warmups began. Article content The pair was shown on the television broadcast during the first period of the game and throughout the Canadian broadcast feed. Article content Article content Swift recently announced that she regained control over her entire body of work. In a lengthy note posted to her official website, Swift said that all the music she's made now belongs to her after she has purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through Big Machine Records — from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. Article content Over the last few years, Swift has been re-recording and releasing her early albums in an attempt to regain control of her music. Article content Other celebs in attendance included former Miami Dolphins star defensive end Jason Taylor, who banged the drum before the game, and hockey greats Wayne Gretzky and Jaromir Jagr. Miami Heat captain Bam Adebayo was joined by former Heat captain Udonis Haslem on the drum on Monday. Article content
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
Misiorowski dominates before departing MLB debut with leg cramps as Brewers blank Cardinals 6-0
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jacob Misiorowski pitched five no-hit innings before leaving his major league debut with cramping in his right calf and quadriceps as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 on Thursday night. Misiorowski (1-0) slipped on the front part of the mound after throwing his third pitch of the sixth. After medical staff went to check on him, he was removed in favor of Nick Mears. The 6-foot-7 right-hander finished his dominant debut with five strikeouts and four walks while reaching a maximum velocity of 102.2 mph with his fastball. The Cardinals didn't get their first hit until Willson Contreras grounded a single up the middle against Aaron Ashby leading off the seventh. They finished with three hits. Ashby worked the final three innings to earn his third career save and first since 2022. St. Louis right-hander Sonny Gray (7-2) entered having allowed three runs over his last four starts, but he couldn't make it out of the fifth inning in this one. Jackson Chourio's two-run homer capped Milwaukee's five-run fifth and knocked Gray out of the game. Sal Frelick had a two-run single. St. Louis' Victor Scott was hit in the head by an 80 mph pitch from Ashby in the eighth but remained in the game. Key moment When Gray picked off Isaac Collins after walking him to start the fifth, it appeared the Brewers were wasting a scoring opportunity. But each of the next five batters got hits and eventually scored to break open the game. Key stat Misiorowski threw 14 pitches at least 100 mph. Coming into the game, all Brewers starters had combined for eight pitches 100 mph or more under pitch tracking that began in 2008, according to Up next The four-game series continues Friday with a matchup of right-handers, as Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.54 ERA) pitches for St. Louis against Freddy Peralta (5-4, 2.69). ___ AP MLB:
