(670 The Score) The Bears interviewed Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on Saturday for their head coach position, the team announced.
Flores, 43, has led Minnesota’s defense for the past two seasons. The Vikings ranked fifth in scoring defense under Flores’ watch this past season before losing 27-9 to the Rams during in a wild-card round game Monday. Flores also interviewed with the Bears in January 2022 for their head coaching vacancy then before Chicago hired Matt Eberflus.
Flores was the head coach of the Dolphins from 2019-’21, going 24-25 in his Miami tenure. He was dismissed following a 9-8 campaign in 2021 as Miami missed the postseason for a third straight time under Flores' leadership.
In February 2022, Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL and the Giants, Broncos and Dolphins, alleging racial discrimination. This past August, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa criticized Flores for his brash leadership ship style during his Miami tenure, calling him a “terrible person.” Despite that, Flores is in consideration for coaching jobs and interviewed with the Jets and Jaguars on Friday.
Flores began his career in coaching with the Patriots back in 2008, working 11 years in New England alongside legendary head coach Bill Belichick.
A native of Brooklyn, Flores played football at Boston College. His senior season in 2003 overlapped with the freshman year of current Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who was an offensive tackle for the Eagles.
The Bears have an opening after firing Eberflus on Nov. 29, marking the franchise’s first in-season dismissal of a head coach.
Poles – who has been retained for a fourth season in his position – is considered the “point man” in this coaching search, team president/CEO Kevin Warren said.
Poles will be joined in the search process by Warren, chairman George McCaskey, senior director of player personnel Jeff King, director of football administration Matt Feinstein and chief human resources officer Liz Geist. The Bears may also include members of their senior leadership team in the interview process. Eleven individuals hold titles of executive vice president or senior vice president.
The Bears have stated their intention to conduct a wide-ranging coaching search. Poles began the process shortly after firing Eberflus, starting by gathering background information and making phone calls to gather intel on potential candidates.
“We're looking for clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good game management and obviously a plan to develop a quarterback is going to be a key part of that as well,” Poles said. “We're going to cast a wide net. It's going to be a diverse group. This will be different backgrounds from offense, defense, special teams, college, pro. We're turning every stone to make sure we're doing this the right way.
“There's going to be some names that you don't expect, that are going to surprise you because we’re digging deeper than we ever have before. In terms of timing, we're going to move with urgency, but we're not going to rush the process.
“We want it to be a sound process.”
Flores is the 15th known candidate the Bears have interviewed as of Saturday midday. They've also interviewed interim head coach Thomas Brown, former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, former Stanford coach David Shaw, former Panthers and Commanders coach Ron Rivera, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who has since accepted an offer to become the Patriots' new head coach.
The Bears have one of six remaining coaching vacancies still open. The Cowboys, Jets, Saints, Raiders and Jaguars each have positions available as well.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.