The Pittsburgh Steelers are beginning the offseason process by compiling a list of potential coaching options to potentially replace Mike Tomlin after he stepped down from the position on Tuesday. One of the biggest names being thrown around for this role is Brian Flores, who used to be an assistant under Tomlin for a season before calling defenses for the Minnesota Vikings. His first head coaching job was a disaster with the Miami Dolphins, but many people around the league believe that he has earned a second chance to prove himself, as he slowly began to turn Miami around before he parted ways with the organization.
Matt Freed/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers’ former senior linebackers coach smiling at a training camp practice at St Vincent College.
While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Aditi Kinkhabwala spoke very highly of Flores, and she explained why he would be a great hire for the Steelers as head coach.
"[Brian Flores] has grown so, so much since the time that he was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins..." Kinkhabwala explained. "The thing about Flo that strikes you is that he is so honest about where he failed, what he had to learn, and how he is better, how he has improved at the things he was not good at. He has talked very openly about what he learned from Mike Tomlin about relating to individual players, and that means everyone in the locker room."
Kinkhabwala is a sideline reporter for CBS, so she has spoken with Flores every time her crew is assigned to a Vikings game, so she and the commentators she works with have had multiple conversations with the defensive coordinator. He definitely had issues in Miami, and those are well-known and well-documented, but since then, being around Tomlin and Kevin O'Connell have helped him grow immensely.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Then-Steelers coaches Mike Tomlin and Brian Flores speak during practice.
Tomlin definitely had his issues at the end of hie tenure in Pittsburgh, but his single-greatest strength was his ability to relate to the players, and that's why so many of them continued to defend him until the bitter end while fans were calling for him to be fired. We can debate his coaching ability all we want, but there is no doubt that he is an amazing person, and that's how he keeps the locker room from turning on him.
Kinkhabwala also noted that O'Connell taught Flores how to relate to quarterbacks, even though he is a defensive-minded coach. Tomlin started the process, and the Vikings' coach helped advance it. If he learned that well enough, he could combine that with his frightening defensive schemes to become an electric leader for the Steelers. His ability to change has put him atop many fans' lists for head coach options.
Steelers May Break Tradition To Hire Flores
Another little bit of information that Kinkhabwala mentioned is that the Steelers are not interested in "retreads," or head coaching options who have already gotten a chance before getting fired. Flores would be considered a retread, but if he has truly grown as much as she said he has, then he should be a very strong consideration to get the job in Pittsburgh and help lead this team back to postseason glory.
Associated Press
Steelers’ former senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, Brian Flores grasps a football during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
As mentioned before, Flores did spend a year with the Steelers, so he has developed relationships within the organization. This is a completely different situation than if it hired someone like Kevin Stefanski, whom it does not know very well. The team executives have seen exactly how he works as an assistant, so they have a good idea of if he would be a good fit or not.
Even if Flores gets the job, he will have to continue showing growth. He can't just only use the lessons from Tomlin and O'Connell to drive him.
What do you think about Brian Flores growing under Tomlin? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation