Vikings Defensive Coordinator Candidates if Brian Flores Leaves

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The Minnesota Vikings have enjoyed full coaching staff continuity for three straight seasons, a perk that may end in 2026 if Brian Flores departs the organization for a head coaching job. If he does leave, consider the following list of names the most likely replacements for Flores.

Minnesota has a strong defense to protect, so the next DC shortlist needs a proven leader who isn’t afraid to be aggressive.

The list is long and exhaustive, mostly featuring names with previous ties to head coach Kevin O’Connell. The Flores storyline should turn white-hot in the next couple of weeks.

The Most Realistic Vikings DC Options if Brian Flores Departs

Listen in order of likelihood, here’s the list of possible Flores DC replacements (No. 1 = most likely replacement).

Kirk Olivadotti stands on the sideline during a Redskins–Cardinals game in Arizona. Vikings Defensive Coordinator Candidates.

15. Kirk Olivadotti
Age: 52

Olivadotti is currently the coach of the Seattle Seahawks‘ off-ball linebackers, crossing paths with O’Connell in Washington in 2018. The Seahawks have one of the NFL’s very best defenses, if not the very best. The defensive staff out in Seattle could be raided this offseason and next.

14. Jim O’Neil
Age: 47

O’Neil is an assistant coach at the moment with the Detroit Lions. He worked with O’Connell in Cleveland for a decade and also had a pit stop as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2016, when Kwesi Adofo-Mensah worked in that front office.

13. Eric Henderson
Age: 42

USC employs Henderson as a co-defensive coordinator. He was the defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams when O’Connell won a Super Bowl out west.

12. Joe Coniglio
Age: 39

Coniglio has never worked with O’Connell, but he’s the current outsider linebacker coach for the Rams, credited with developing Jared Verse and Byron Young, among others. Even if it’s not with the Vikings, Coniglio will likely have a trial as some team’s defensive coordinator soon.

11. Roy Anderson
Age: 45

Anderson served as an assistant defensive backs coach under O’Connell in 2022 before leaving for a promotion in Seattle in 2023. In 2025, he’s the cornerbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, winning the chip last year while coaching rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.

10. Anthony Weaver
Age: 45

Weaver and O’Connell worked together on Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine’s staff 10 years ago. He’s now the defensive boss in Miami and could be let go if Mike McDaniels gets canned next week.

9. Don Martindale
Age: 62

Don Martindale looks on before a Giants game at MetLife Stadium.

Martindale did not survive the University of Michigan scandal and firing of Sherrone Moore. Michigan cut ties about three weeks ago. There are no tangible connections between Martindale and the Vikings, but if Minnesota wants to maintain its blitz-heavy style, this is the guy.

8. Jeff Ulbrich
Age: 48

Ulbrich has created a Top 12 defense in Atlanta per DVOA, and the group even frustrated the hell out of J.J. McCarthy four months ago. He’s the defensive coordinator for the Falcons, and he could be looking for a job soon if Atlanta terminates Raheem Morris. More on him later.

7. Todd Bowles
Age: 62

There’s a chance that Bowles gets fired on Monday, and if so, he’ll need a job. He’s coached in the NFL for 25 years, including as a head coach and defensive coordinator. The Vikings even interviewed him for their head coaching opening in 202 before landing on O’Connell.

6. Jerod Mayo
Age: 39

Remember Mayo? His reputation is a little busted right now because Mike Vrabel took over his New England Patriots team and went from worst to first. Yet, after a year off, Mayo would make a fabulous defensive coordinator. He also played for the Patriots when O’Connell was drafted as a backup quarterback.

5. Jim Schwartz
Age: 59

Like Mike McDaniel and Todd Bowles, Kevin Stefanski could be fired in Cleveland on Monday. The verdicts on those men are totally up in the air. If so, Schwartz will need a job as a defensive coordinator. He won’t be unemployed long. His defenses consistently rank in the league’s Top 10.

4. Patrick Graham
Age: 46

Like Bowles, the Vikings interviewed Graham four years ago for the vacant head coaching job. He ended up with the Las Vegas Raiders as the defensive coordinator, a job he’s held for the last four seasons. Graham may need a new post if Pete Carroll gets axed.

3. Jonathan Gannon
Age: 42

The current Cardinals head coach, who is on the hot seat, worked for the Vikings as an assistant defensive backs coach at the dawn of the Mike Zimmer era. He served in the role for four seasons. Gannon’s job security suggests he’ll be fired next week, and people in the Vikings’ front office will know him well. The only problem? His defenses in Arizona haven’t been all that efficient.

2. Daronte Jones
Age: 47

The incumbent-style candidate.

If Minnesota wants an internal hire, a guy who has presumably learned everything from Flores over the last three seasons, Jones is their man. He defensively coordinated the LSU Tigers in 2021 and has filled Minnesota’s defensive passing game coordinator role since. This is the man to hire if Minnesota wants no outside assistance.

1. Raheem Morris
Age: 49

Raheem Morris and Jonathan Gannon shake hands after a Falcons–Cardinals game.

The Falcons are probably on the cusp of firing Morris. Atlanta just has not done much of anything in the last two seasons despite a dazzling offensive roster that includes Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.

Morris and O’Connell worked together in Los Angeles in 2021 — Morris as the defensive coordinator and O’Connell in charge of the offense.

If Atlanta terminates Morris, he should be considered the frontrunner to replace Flores because of his prominent and Super Bowl-winning connection to O’Connell.

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