The scramble to hire NFL coaches each January inevitably leads to ’s doorstep.
The Patriots’ 20th year head man has seen nine assistants hired away to lead other NFL franchises. As the Broncos search to replace , their focus has turned to another New England assistant.
Brian Flores, 37, is the Patriots’ linebackers coach and in his first season as defensive playcaller. Broncos’ general manager and CEO Joe Ellis and other club officials traveled to interview Flores on Saturday. Other franchises have also shown interest, including Miami, Green Bay and Cleveland.
The Belichick coaching tree boasts an impressive limb count but few branches sprout success.
Only three of nine former Belichick assistants who got NFL head coaching jobs have career records better than .500. Al Groh, who worked under Belichick during his stint as the Browns’ head coach, went 9-7 with the Jets in 2000 before resigning to coach in college. Mike Vrabel led the Titans to a 9-7 record this season. Bill O’Brien is 42-38 over five seasons with the Texans.
The collective coaching records in the NFL of the remaining six disciples — Romeo Crennel (Browns/Chiefs), Eric Mangini (Jets/Browns), Josh McDaniels (Broncos), Matt Patricia (Lions), Nick Saban (Dolphins) and Jim Schwartz (Lions) — is a whopping 122-197. However, to simply dismiss Flores’ coaching potential based on history isn’t fair, either.
Flores, a New York native who played linebacker at Boston College, broke into the NFL in 2004 as a Patriots scouting assistant and was given pro scouting duties before the 2006 season. He transitioned to an on-field role two years later and was then elevated to oversee safeties (2012-15) and linebackers (2016-18). Through his seven seasons as a position coach, New England ranked inside the NFL’s top 10 for fewest points allowed. The 2018 Patriots (11-5) won their 10th consecutive AFC East title with a defense that ranked No. 21 in yards allowed (359.1), No. 7 in scoring (20.3) and No. 5 in total takeaways (28).
Flores broke down his coaching philosophy in an .
“I think leadership is about being honest,” Flores said. “Itap about being transparent. I think itap about putting yourself in the shoes of others. I also think itap about being tough on people, having high expectations, having a high standard and not letting off that standard. I think you can do that specifically with players — you can be tough on them, expect a lot from them, but not be somebody they despise.
“I think itap important to connect to people. When you can do that, I think you can get more out of them. Thatap part of my leadership style. Itap a combination of building trust and building that connection so you can be tough and they know itap out of love.”
Hiring Flores might give some Broncos fans pause considering the similarities between his rise and that of Joseph; a long-time defensive position coach with only season of play calling duties and no previous head coaching experience. Pairing Flores with a veteran offensive coordinator, possibly , would lessen concerns over the learning curve.
Interviewing Flores fulfills the Broncos’ need to satisfy the Rooney Rule, established in 2003, which requires NFL teams interview at least one minority candidate for a vacant head coaching position. There were eight minority head coaches in the NFL to begin the 2018 season. But the firings of Joseph, Hue Jackson (Browns), Todd Bowles (Jets), Steve Wilkes (Cardinals) and Marvin Lewis (Bengals) now leaves the league with only three: Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Anthony Lynn (Chargers) and Ron Rivera (Panthers).
Don’t mistake Flores as simply an interview obligation, however. Patriots’ players have raved about his coaching ability in .
Defensive back Malcolm Butler: “He never really lets his emotions get to him. He collects himself. And he just calls it like it is. He focuses on getting the job done rather than any of the extra stuff.”
Defensive end Trey Flowers: “Once you have success, then you’re allowed to trust him and play more freely and go out there and make plays. Because you know your coach is going to put you in the right position.”
Cornerback Jason McCourty: “I love playing for Coach Flores.”
Whether Flores thrives with the Broncos, Dolphins, Packers or Browns, or needs to wait for a head coaching opening, it seems he’s destined for bigger things.
“I have goals and things I want to do personally, but thatap for down the line,” Flores told ESPN. “Right now, my focus is on this team, and this season, and helping this team win any way I can.”
BELICHICK COACHING TREE
Longtime Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick has witnessed nine former assistants become NFL head coaches. Here’s how their winning percentages stack up.
Al Groh, Jets: 9-7 (.560)
Mike Vrabel, Titans: 9-7 (.560)
Bill O’Brien, Texans: 42-38 (.520)
Nick Saban, Dolphins: 15-17 (.460)
Eric Mangini, Jets and Browns: 33-47 (.410)
Josh McDaniels, Broncos: 11-17 (.390)
Matt Patricia, Lions: 6-10 (.370)
Romeo Crennel, Browns and Chiefs: 28-55 (.330)
Jim Schwartz, Lions: 29-51 (.360)
Total: 182-249 (.420)
*Records through Week 17 of the 2018 season provided by pro-football-reference.com
