The Washington Commanders are taking their time before appointing their new defensive coordinator. But with several more vacancies opening around the NFL since Dan Quinn fired Joe Whitt Jr., the head coach would be wise to act swiftly to secure his preferred target.
However, the Commanders' dream of luring Brian Flores to Washington seems to be fading rapidly amid growing buzz elsewhere.
Nobody thought the Commanders would even get an interview with Flores, but they did. He was willing to hear Quinn out. He also knows general manager Adam Peters from their time together on the New England Patriots. Nothing was sealed on the spot, which isn't surprising given he was being considered for head-coaching vacancies.
Commanders' dream of landing Brian Flores is fading rapidly
Mark Maske from The Washington Post all but crushed the Commanders' dreams of landing Flores. The national reporter revealed that he is under strong consideration to replace Mike Tomlin as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, with an in-person meeting scheduled for later this week.
"Brian Flores is believed to be a serious contender for the Steelers’ head coaching job. He previously worked for the Steelers as their linebackers coach under Mike Tomlin before his successful defensive coordinator stint with the Vikings."Mark Maske
As Maske mentioned, Flores previously worked under Tomlin. The Steelers gave him a route back into coaching after things ended bitterly with the Miami Dolphins, and this belief in his capabilities may see the aggressive defensive mind repay this faith if an offer to take charge arrives.
That would put the Commanders at a massive disadvantage. Their chances of landing Flores were always slim, regardless of whether he got a top job or not. The Minnesota Vikings remain highly confident of keeping him around in this scenario, but this latest report suggests he may be the frontrunner for the driver's seat in Pittsburgh.
Being the guy who follows Tomlin after his successful 19-year run is a daunting task. Flores has the mindset to handle pressure, and the Steelers are renowned for giving their coaches time to put their plans into action. And after how things went in Miami, nobody would begrudge him a second chance after turning his career around.
The Commanders cannot be caught on the back foot. Quinn is staying patient, but the tipping point is fast approaching. Flores was the pipedream, and although nothing has been confirmed as yet, Washington is fighting a losing battle here.
Quinn cannot whiff on this hire. But it's starting to look like he can tick Flores off his shortlist.