EAGAN, Minn. (AP) 鈥� Brian Flores is back for a fourth season as defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, having signed a to continue his direction of what has been one of the best-performing units in the since his arrival.
This year will present another challenge for one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the league, who is in charge of a defense that got significantly younger.
Missing this week during minicamp are four of the top 12 most-used players from last season: standout edge rusher , veteran defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, and stalwart safety Harrison Smith.
Neither Allen nor Hargrave made the impact the Vikings envisioned in their one-and-done stints. But the cost-cutting trade of Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles has left a big void. And while the door for Smith to return for a 15th year in Minnesota remains open, the coaching staff must have a contingency plan for his absence.
鈥淭his group in 2026 is going to be very different than 2025 and 2024 and 2023 and every other year before that, so that鈥檚 just our league,” Flores said. 鈥淵ou always miss guys and you鈥檇 always love to have him back, and I鈥檝e told him that many times already, but at the same time we鈥檝e got a good group. We鈥檙e working hard and doing a lot of really good things.鈥�
Smith could wind up waiting until after training camp to decide, and the Vikings sound more than fine with that uncertainty.
鈥淚t could be an ongoing thing, how our season goes and how he views it and ultimately what that looks like,鈥� head coach Kevin O’Connell said. 鈥淏ut he鈥檚 earned the respect of everybody in this building to have that type of dialogue and communication.鈥�
Jay Ward, who started five games down the stretch last year, will continue to see his playing time at safety ramp up regardless of whether Smith plays in 2026. Dallas Turner will enter his third season as a full-time starter in place of Greenard.
Jalen Redmond, who was one of the team’s breakout players in 2025, will anchor the interior with increasing roles for 2025 fifth-round draft pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, second-year player Elijah Williams and 2024 seventh-round draft pick Levi Drake Rodriguez. Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange are rookie defensive linemen with high ceilings, among the the Vikings drafted over the first three rounds.
鈥淭his is a unique system. It鈥檚 a demanding system. We鈥檝e got high standards, high expectations. For some people, it鈥檚 a lot. There鈥檚 stress and anxiety. But also what I want our guys to know is it鈥檚 definitely an opportunity for growth,鈥� Flores said.
He added: 鈥淭he guys, they鈥檝e been fantastic from a chemistry standpoint, from a vibe, from an energy standpoint, a willingness to work and learn.鈥�
Flores wins NFL writers association’s award for overcoming adversity
Flores recently became the first Vikings winner of the George Halas Award, which has been presented annually by the Professional Football Writers of America since 1969 to an NFL player, coach or staffer who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.
More than four years ago, against the league and three individual teams after he was following three seasons as their head coach. Last month, the in the case, removing the final roadblock toward a trial. The NFL had appealed to have its own arbitration process handle the lawsuit rather than in .
Flores with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets for their head coach openings. This year, he was a finalist with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
When asked after practice on Tuesday about his award and his case, Flores declined to address the latter.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be recognized that way,鈥� Flores said. 鈥淚 certainly didn鈥檛 get there myself. I’m very fortunate to be in this great organization.鈥�
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This story has been corrected to show that Banks’ first name is Caleb, not Elijah.
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