The Minnesota Vikings almost lost Brian Flores after years of frustration with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired by the team last week.
Several reports have surfaced about Flores’ hesitance to sign a new contract with the team after he allowed his contract to expire after the 2025 season. Flores explored head coaching opportunities with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers and the defensive coordinator opening with the Washington Commanders before ultimately signing a new contract to stay in Minnesota in late January.
That decision may have been made under the stipulation of Adofo-Mensah’s ousting.
Brian Flores Allowed Vikings Contract to Expire Amid Frustrations With GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Insider Says
In the aftermath of Adofo-Mensah’s firing, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune reported on February 1 that Flores was frustrated with the Vikings’ former general manager due to his inexperience in football operations.
“Adofo-Mensah’s background led some around the NFL to view him with skepticism, and he acknowledged several times during his tenure that he was learning on the job, in everything from player evaluation to leading his front-office staff. [Rob] Brzezinski stepped in to assist in some trade negotiations, while coach Kevin O’Connell served as an emissary during tense discussions such as Danielle Hunter’s 2023 hold-in,” Goessling wrote. “Sources spoke of frustration from the team’s scouting staff and from defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who let his contract expire before signing a new deal Jan. 21.”
Flores is credited with identifying several of the standout veterans that have helped transform the Vikings defense like Blake Cashman, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Meanwhile, Adofo-Mensah’s performance in the draft left much to be desired in Minnesota.
“The Vikings’ lack of draft success seemed to be a constant stressor, leaving the roster without the depth it needed to weather injuries and forcing Brzezinski to cover draft mistakes with cleverly structured contracts that were lucrative enough to woo players to Minnesota without putting the Vikings back in cap purgatory,” Goessling added.
Vikings Make Brian Flores Among NFL’s Highest-Paid Coaches
In his appraisal of the Vikings’ leadership shakeup, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert shared a similar report on Flores’ view of Adofo-Mensah.
As it would in many organizations, the level of Adofo-Mensah’s inexperience drew concern. Multiple sources said that defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unusual decision to let his contract lapse, before signing a new deal that will pay him more than $6 million per season,” Seifert wrote, “was based in part on his unease with the direction of the front office. When asked last month if he wanted to remain with the Vikings, Flores noted that he loved working for the Wilfs and with O’Connell, and loved living in Minnesota, but did not mention Adofo-Mensah.”
The Vikings showed they valued Flores with that $6 million-a-year deal that could make him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL.
Coach salaries are not disclosed to the public, but other highly coveted coordiantor’s contracts have also been reported. Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was paid a $6 million-a-year deal, while Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was awarded a $4.5 million-a-year contract.
However, for Flores to truly feel secure in Minnesota will require the Vikings to make the right decision in their next general manager.
Brian Flores’ Frustration With Vikings Revealed After GM Firing