The Texans are interviewing one of their top targets for their head coaching vacancy for the second time, former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly. Flores’ first interview was via Zoom and was brief. This one is in person in Houston.
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Brian Flores was fired by the Miami Dolphins
Flores, 40, was a surprise firing after finishing 9-8 in 2021. His dismissal came amidst reports of disagreements with general manager Chris Grier over personnel decisions, including drafting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He finished 24-25 in three seasons as a head coach. That included a 10-6 record two seasons ago and a 5-11 mark in his first year.
The Dolphins went 9-8 after starting the season 1-7 and then going 8-1 in the second half of the year. Miami was the first team in NFL history to lose seven consecutive games and win seven consecutive games in the same season.
“I’ve been looking at this over three years now and watching the organization grow,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said when Flores was dismissed. “And I think an organization can only function if it’s collaborative, and it works well together. And I don’t think that we were really working well as an organization that it would take to really win consistently at the NFL level.”
Flores’ history in the NFL
Flores was the Patriots’ defensive signal-caller during a Super Bowl LIII championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He worked for the Patriots as an assistant coach from 2008 to 2018.
A Brooklyn, N.Y. native and a former Boston College linebacker, Flores has a long background and a strong relationship with Texans general manager Nick Caserio from their time together in New England. He joined the Patriots in 2004 as a 23-year-old scouting assistant before becoming a pro scout. New England promoted Flores to the coaching staff in 2008 as a special-teams assistant; he subsequently coached safeties and linebackers. He had the responsibilities but not the title of defensive coordinator.
Flores went 4-2 against his former boss and mentor, Bill Belichick. That marks the most success against the Patriots’ HC of any coach who faced him over the past three years.
“I am grateful most of all for the players, coaches, and support staff who gave everything they had on a daily basis to help us win games,” Flores said in a statement when he was fired by the Dolphins. “They deserve the credit for any success on the field, and it was the honor of a lifetime for me to go to work with them every day. I have always believed that leadership is really about service, and I did my best to serve the players, the staff, and the organization every day. I believe in this team and will always value the relationships my family and I made here.”
Candidates for the Texans head coach position
Flores and New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo are among their top candidates for Houston’s head coach job. Former NFL quarterback Josh McCown and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon are also firmly in the mix.
The Texans have given no timeline on their urgency to hire a head coach. But it appears they have narrowed down the search to several candidates.