While there’s been a lot of discussion about the Patriots’ lack of an offensive coordinator, it’s worth noting their defensive coordinator role remains unfilled as well.
Despite that, they never discussed any openings with Brian Flores, whom the Steelers hired Saturday as a senior defensive assistant.
In an appearance on HBO’s “Real Sports” with Bryant Gumble, which airs Wednesday, Flores said he hasn’t spoken with Bill Belichick since suing the NFL for alleged racial discrimination. Belichick’s mistaken text to Flores about the Giants’ head coaching vacancy spurned his suit.
“I mean, there’s potential that we could — we could run into each other. I mean, I’d be open to a conversation,” Flores said, per HBO’s transcript. “But no, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
On Monday, Flores said on Brandon Marshall’s “I Am Athlete” he doesn’t hold any animus towards Belichick for his technological mishap (the Patriots’ coach thought he was texting Brian Daboll to congratulate him on landing the Giants’ coaching job, but sent his message to Flores instead).
“I’m not mad. Bill did what a lot of us do, sent a text message to the wrong person,” Flores said. “It confirmed a lot of things that I thought were going on, that I think a lot of black minority coaches think are going on. It kinda confirmed it for me. You know, as far as having a fair and equal opportunity to go and interview and show your acumen, show your intelligence, show your ability to lead.”
Flores spent 10 years on Belichick’s staff, moving up to linebackers coach in 2016. He was the Patriots' de-facto defensive coordinator during their 2018 Super Bowl run, in which they held the high-flying Rams to three points in Super Bowl LIII.