As the Vikings prepare for a playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night in Inglewood, Calif., their defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, has started to garner interest from a number of teams searching for their next head coach. As of Tuesday, the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets had reportedly requested permission to interview Flores for the position. The current vacancies across the NFL include the Bears, Jets, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and, most recently, Las Vegas Raiders. This is the first time Flores will interview to be a head coach since being hired by the Vikings nearly 24 months ago. “It’s an honor,” Flores said. “I definitely don’t take that lightly.” The Vikings (14-3) lead the NFC in rushing defense with 1,588 total yards, and lead the NFL with 24 interceptions after picking off Jared Goff twice in Sunday’s 31-9 loss in the regular-season finale. Asked how he plans to navigate the hiring cycle, Flores made it clear that he won’t turn down any interviews, saying, “I plan on sitting down and having conversations with any team that’s interested in talking to me about that position.” Though the Patriots haven’t yet requested permission to interview him, Flores indicated that he would have interest in bringing his story full circle if he had the opportunity to do so. “When I talk about my football journey, that’s where it started, so I would say yes,” Flores said. “At the same time, that’s not up to me as to whether they would want to talk to me or anything like that.” Technically, Flores can’t interview with any team until next week at the earliest, and he emphasized that his sole focus this week is making sure the Vikings are ready to play when they take the field against the Rams. “I pride myself on being able to compartmentalize and prioritize different things that are happening in my life,” Flores said. “I’m certainly locked in on the Rams and all the things that they can do.” That doesn’t mean Flores is against talking about the interview process with his players. Those conversations already have happened with some players, who have gone out of their way to offer their congratulations. “I’ve got great relationships with the guys. Nothing is off limits,” Flores said. “I’m happy to talk to any of the guys about it. I think more than anything, I feel a lot of support from the guys, so that makes that part of it pretty easy for me.” After spending more than a decade with the Patriots to start his career, Flores was hired to be head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He put together a 24-25 record with the Dolphins before being fired on Jan. 10, 2022. Not long after after being fired by the Dolphins, Flores interviewed with several teams during the same hiring cycle. He did not receiver any job offers, and that prompted him to file a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging racial discrimination during the interview process. It’s important to note that the lawsuit is still active. As a way to stay in the game, Flores ended took a job as a senior defensive assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers and got to work under head coach Mike Tomlin. That experience ultimately led to Flores getting hired as the defensive coordinator with the Vikings, where he has spent the past two seasons working hand in hand with head coach Kevin O’Connell. As he reflected on his time with the Vikings, Flores, who has a defensive background, said he has very much appreciated getting to work alongside O’Connell, a former NFL quarterback who was the Rams’ offensive coordinator before he was hired by the Vikings. “I bounce questions off him and pick his brain, and he does the same thing with me,”  Flores said. “It’s been a great marriage.” That explains why Flores isn’t necessarily looking to going anywhere else. “It’s been fantastic here in Minnesota,” Flores said. “It would have to be the right situation for me to leave.” Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores cheers on Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) after a defensives stop of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept., 15, 2024. The Vikings beat the 49er’s 23-17. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Related Articles Minnesota Vikings | Vikings sign QB Daniel Jones to active roster, waive Brett Rypien Minnesota Vikings | Dane Mizutani: Sam Darnold’s story with the Vikings isn’t over Minnesota Vikings | Five takeaways from Vikings’ 31-9 loss to Lions Minnesota Vikings | Vikings fall flat on their faces in 31-9 loss to Lions in primetime Minnesota Vikings | Vikings spent nearly $2 million to bring some of Minnesota with them to Detroit