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There is no bigger storyline for the Minnesota Vikings as they head into the 2026 offseason than the future of Brian Flores. Could he leave for a head coaching gig? Or would he be willing to make a lateral move to take another team's defensive coordinator job?
The Vikings will have massive shoes to fill if Flores does leave. His contract expires after the 2025 season, meaning he has no obligation to return to Minnesota.
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Who would replace him if he leaves? The Vikings have several options in-house if they want to keep Flores' scheme somewhat intact– if he doesn't bring those coaches with him to his new home.
Daronte Jones, Vikings DBs coach/Passing game coordinator
Jones is the most logical choice to replace Flores if he does indeed leave. He spent the 2020 season as the Vikings' defensive backs coach, left for LSU for a year, then returned in 2022 to resume his role. When Flores arrived in 2023, Jones became Minnesota's passing game coordinator on defense. Flores recently said that Jones will become a defensive coordinator in the future. Jones also called some plays in the preseason.
Mike Siravo, Vikings inside linebackers coach
Siravo has been mentioned many times by Flores during press conferences. He, too, called plays in preseason and feels like the only other in-house option if Jones were to depart for a job outside of Minnesota. Siravo has been with the Vikings since 2023.
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Jonathan Gannon, former Cardinals head coach
Gannon was fired this week after spending the past three seasons as the Cardinals' head coach. Before taking the job, he spent 2021 and 2022 as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, helping them advance to Super Bowl LVII in 2022.
Raheem Morris, former Falcons head coach
Morris spent the past two seasons as the Falcons' head coach before being fired on Sunday. Before that, he spent his previous three seasons as the Rams' defensive coordinator, winning Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season when Kevin O'Connell was LA's offensive coordinator.
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Brandon Staley, Saints defensive coordinator
A dark-horse candidate, Staley is close with O'Connell. He was the Rams' defensive coordinator in 2020, O'Connell's first year in LA. Staley took the Saints' defensive coordinator job in 2025, helping them rank 9th in yards allowed despite their 6-11 record. New Orleans likely wants him back, but Staley's phone could ring if the Vikings lose Flores.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 5 Defensive coordinator candidates for the Vikings in 2026
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