On Jan. 5, the Cleveland Browns announced that they have fired head coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons with the team, and now a Minnesota Vikings coach is a potential candidate to replace him.
The search for Stefanski’s replacement is now underway, and several names are reportedly emerging as possible candidates. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported on Jan. 5 that Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is one of the names that the Browns are looking at to replace Stefanski.
“Flores interviewed for the Browns defensive coordinator job in 2023 when it went to Schwartz, but the Browns really liked him,” Cabot wrote. “Flores runs a 3-4 defense, which doesn’t fit Myles Garrett, but the Browns are putting leadership and culture fit ahead of scheme.
“He was head coach of the Dolphins (2019–21), and had a senior defensive role with the Steelers. Flores’s defenses are known for discipline, creativity, and physical play.”
The Browns ended the 2025 season at 5-12, marking their second consecutive last-place finish in the AFC North and their fourth losing campaign under Kevin Stefanski.
“We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin’s leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the last six seasons,” Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said Monday in a statement (h/t ESPN).
“He is a good football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our organization but our results over the last two seasons have not been satisfactory, and we believe a change at the head coaching position is necessary.”
Brian Flores on the Raiders Radar for HC Job
Moreover, if the Browns see him as one of the top candidates, they will need to make a move rather quickly.
On Jan. 4, a report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio revealed that Minority owner Tom Brady is likely to have a significant say in the search, and he has his eyes on a couple of former New England Patriots.
“There’s a rumor currently making the rounds that, once Brady rolls up his sleeves (while also wearing one glove and an expensive-ass watch), he’ll make the case for bringing in Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores,” Florio wrote in an article published on Jan. 4.
“As the chatter goes, Flores would be the head coach, and former Giants coach Brian Daboll would be the offensive coordinator. Like Flores, Daboll has extensive experience with the Patriot Way. Daboll was there for the first three Super Bowl wins of the Brady/Belichick era, and for two of the second trio of championships.”
Vikings Want to Keep Brian Flores as Defensive Coordinator
On Dec. 28, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with reporters and shared his thoughts on Flores’ future.
“We have [had contract extension talks]; it goes back a long way before those reports,” O’Connell told reporters. “We’ve had recent [and] very good dialogue. Flo knows I love him. He was the guy three years ago that I identified to bring in here, and the growth, and just our relationship, and what he’s meant to me personally is so massive.
“That’s not even taken into account what he’s been able to do defensively for our team and been such a huge part of helping us daily, minute to minute, weather the different storms we had to navigate this year. Things are in a really positive place right now. I absolutely want Brian Flores to be the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings as long as we can have him.”
Vikings Coach Possible Browns Target After Kevin Stefanski Firing