Steelers May Have Ulterior Motive With Brian Flores That Will Absolutely Frustrate The Minnesota Vikings

It could be some time before the Pittsburgh Steelers decide who will be the lucky individual to work as the franchise's new head coach. One of the most stable jobs in all of sports has to be an attractive landing spot, even though the team does not have a long-term plan at the quarterback position currently. Mike Tomlin had a great 19-year run; however, he decided that it was finally time to take a step back. Now, a few candidates are emerging and most of the favorites for the job have some kind of defensive background, which should not come as a surprise.

A lot of the buzz has surrounded Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula, but some offensive-minded individuals have come to the surface in recent days. Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is in contention, but someone 27 years older than him could have a better beat on the job. Mike McCarthy will interview with the team on Wednesday, and the Super Bowl champion is focused on landing the gig in the Steel City.

Brian Flores is also a coach to keep an eye on. He has not agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings to return as the franchise's defensive coordinator, so not only is he a head coach candidate, but he also could be viewed as someone who could take over another organization's defense. On Wednesday morning, Steelers team insider Mark Kaboly noted that a combination of McCarthy and Flores is not to be overlooked.

"It makes sense with the Steelers realizing that they are going to have to develop a quarterback during the tenure of this new head coach," Kaboly wrote. "Who else out there is more qualified than McCarthy? Now, if you can add Brian Flores to the mix as defensive coordinator (which isn’t a crazy thought), then you can see what the Steelers are thinking by bringing McCarthy in for an interview. Trust me when I say there are worse roads to travel than the one that leads you to Greenfield Mike."

Throughout his mailbag on X, Kaboly answered questions about the roster and head coaching search. When Flores came up again, the reporter mentioned that while Flores could be hired as the next head coach, it's much more likely that fans will see him be brought in to serve in a different role.

"There is a chance, but not as good as you may think, and not at the position you might be thinking about," Kaboly noted.

While McCarthy is not the youngest or most exciting individual on the market, his experience combined with Flores' unique coaching style could bring success to Pittsburgh sooner rather than later. The Steelers may be pulling a fast one on the Vikings, and that would upset a Minnesota team that has had incredible defensive success with Flores running the operation on that side of the ball.

Familiarity may be key for Pittsburgh's decision makers. Flores coached in the Steel City back in 2022 and knows a lot of the players on the current roster. Additionally, McCarthy is from area and understands exactly what is means to lead in the Steelers' locker room. Traditionally, the organization may not take this approach, but hiring McCarthy and then stealing Flores from the Vikings remains a viable option.

Steelers Would Likely Frustrate The Vikings If They Pull Off Lateral Move For Flores

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has enough problems on his hands with a unique and tricky quarterback situation. The last thing he needs is for Flores to depart for Pittsburgh as a defensive coordinator. It's clear that the Vikings have not been able to retain him just yet, and if he doesn't land the head coaching job in the Steel City, but prefers to run the defense for the Steelers, it would not be an ideal outcome for O'Connell and co.

Do you think the Steelers may hire McCarthy as the next head coach and Flores to run the defense? Let us know in the comments below!

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