With Matt Patricia now the head coach of the Lions, it's been reported Brian Flores will have a new role with the Patriots defense after serving as just linebackers coach in recent years.
Flores will call the defense, but not have the defensive coordinator title, which is typically how Bill Belichick does things with new coordinators. It's not clear if the team will hire a linebackers coach to take his spot, or if Flores will do both.
Not having the defensive coordinator title isn't an issue with him.
"I've never been big on titles," Flores said to reporters on Friday at Gillette Stadium. "I'm here to work. I'm here to make this team win any way I can. I think I've always said that in some form or fashion. Again, if they want me to get water, I'll get water. If that's what the role we need to help us win, then that's what I'll do."
Added Flores: "Every year is different to me. Every year is a little bit — there's some transition, there's some things that are different. This year, to me it's similar to other years. And that's kind of where I'm at. My goal in coaching is to help guys become the best version of themselves on the field and off. On the practice field and meetings, that's my goal. That's what I'm working towards right now."
Overall, it seems like Flores isn't going to change much with what is already in place.
"I think there's a long history of this defense," Flores said. "Bill's been here for a number of years. I would say we're going to continue to play defense like we've played for the past 18 seasons since he's been here. My role in that is no different than any other coach on the team. We're trying to put something together here and do whatever helps us win. You can call it personal imprint, but it's a team imprint. I have a hard time kind of — that doesn't resonate with me. It's a team imprint. It's not my imprint or somebody — it's our imprint. We're trying to build to be as good as we can be. It starts now in Phase 1, 2 into OTAs, training camp, preseason and so on and so forth."
The 37-year-old has been with the Patriots since 2004 when he started as a scouting assistant. He's been linebackers coach since 2016.
