Eagan, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings announced today Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores has signed a contract extension.
In Flores’ first three seasons leading Minnesota’s defense (2023-25), the Vikings have limited their opponents to 19.2 points per game (second-fewest league wide) and 317.1 yards per game, including 5.1 yards per play (fourth). Opponents have averaged just 105.4 rushing yards per game (fifth) against the Vikings defense during Flores’ tenure, including a league-low 3.9 yards per rush since 2023. Minnesota has totaled the second-most forced fumbles in the NFL with 52, and the fifth-most defensive takeaways with 73, including 61 fumble recoveries (fifth) and 43 interceptions. The Vikings have allowed just 147 plays of 20+ yards over the past three seasons, the fewest league wide since Flores took ownership of the defense.
“Brian has a unique ability to connect with players, understand their skill sets, and put them in positions to maximize their impact on the field,” said Head Coach Kevin O’Connell. “The identity of our defense is a reflection of his leadership and preparation. On a personal level, I’ve really valued the relationship we’ve built over the last three years, and that shared trust, alignment and high standard will continue to be critical to our success.”
Under Flores’ tutelage, the Vikings defense has steadily improved. Prior to his arrival in Minnesota, the Vikings defense ranked 31st overall at the conclusion of the 2022 season. Flores led the unit to a 16th-place ranking following the 2023 and 2024 seasons and a third-place finish this past season, allowing only 282.6 yards per game in 2025. Only Houston (277.2) and Denver (278.2) allowed fewer total yards per game.
In 2025, Flores’ defense allowed an average of 158.5 passing yards per game, the second fewest in the NFL behind Buffalo (156.9). It also marked the team’s fewest passing yards allowed per game by the club since 1989 (156.3). In the red zone, Minnesota allowed just 2.11 yards per play this season, the second fewest in the NFL (Denver), and gave up touchdowns on only 42.9% of its opponents’ red-zone drives, which also marked the second-lowest percentage across the league in 2025 (Denver).
Flores, who was a 2024 finalist for The Associated Press Assistant Coach of the Year, helped the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record and playoff appearance in 2024, the second-most wins in team history. The Vikings led the NFL in interceptions (24), passes defensed (95), opponent 4th-down conversion percentage (37.1%) and interceptions per attempt (3.8%) and tied for the league lead in takeaways (33), despite having 14 defenders on the active roster who were in their first season with Minnesota in 2024. They also ranked second in the NFL in opponent scoring efficiency (31.6%), opponent runs of at least 20 yards (five) and opponents rushing yards per game (93.5).
Flores’ defense recorded a takeaway in every regular-season game in 2024, marking the most consecutive games with a takeaway in a single season in franchise history, and they were the only team in the NFL with a takeaway in every game. The Vikings 24 interceptions were five more than any other team in the league (Houston, 19) and tied for the team’s second-most interceptions in a season since 2000 (28 INTs in 2003 and 24 INTs in 2005).
Under Flores’ guidance, three Vikings defenders were selected to the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl in OLBs Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and CB Byron Murphy Jr., all of whom earned the nod for the first time in their careers. Greenard (12 sacks) and Van Ginkel (11.5) finished tied for fifth and tied for eighth in sacks, respectively. Murphy recorded six interceptions in 2024, tied for the third most in the NFL, and become the first Vikings CB to record at least six interceptions in a season since Jimmy Hitchcock in 1998 (seven INTs). Van Ginkel was also named to the AP All-Pro Second Team.
In his first season in Minnesota, the Vikings led the NFL in forced fumbles with 21, three more than any other team in the league, and it marked the most forced fumbles in a single season in franchise history since 2007 when the team also forced 21.
