GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 07: Head Matt Lafleur of the Green Bay Packers reacts to a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on December 07, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers‘ search to find a new defensive coordinator has now begun, after it was announced on Monday afternoon that the Miami Dolphins will make now-former Packers DC Jeff Hafley their new head coach, replacing the recently-fired Mike McDaniel.
The Packers have already scheduled one interview with ex-Arizona Cardinals head coach, Jonathan Gannon, and requested another with Minnesota Vikings defensive pass game coordinator, Daronte Jones for the vacant position.
Other names like former Atlanta Falcons head coach, Raheem Morris and the Denver Broncos‘ defensive pass game coordinator, Jim Leonhard have also been thrown into the mix.
However, according to Packers insider, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the team could make a surprise move and poach the highly-sought after defensive coordinator from an NFC North rival, the Vikings.
Brian Flores Could Emerge as a Target For the Packers
Brian Flores is currently interviewing for the head coaching jobs of both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, but Demovsky believes he could be a legitimate target of Green Bay head coach, Matt LaFleur, to do the same role in Wisconsin.
“LaFleur also could try to lure Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores from Minnesota. Flores is not under contract for 2026 and has interviewed for head coaching jobs and at least one other defensive coordinator opening.” Demovsky wrote on Monday afternoon on ESPN.com.
“Flores was one of the front-runners to become the Packers’ head coach in 2019, a source said, before LaFleur got the job.”
Given that he is a major target at head coach for two of the most coveted jobs in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, it would not make a huge amount of natural sense for him to also be interviewing for DC jobs.
Yet, given that he is out of contract, he is not bound by the same rules as other coaches, who would otherwise need permission from their current organization to be allowed to be interviewed for a lateral coaching move to a different franchise.
Flores Could Be Open to a Lateral Coaching Move
One might also ask why Flores would be interested in moving to a parallel position on a different team, considering that he is up for multiple HC jobs, and the fact that the Vikings would almost certainly be willing to re-sign him for this upcoming season.
But there is evidence that the former Dolphins head coach is at least vaguely interested in the idea of moving on from Minnesota. Flores reportedly interviewed for the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator job last week, and – on paper at least – the Packers are a far more alluring opportunity than the Commanders.
Flores is fully aware that despite his pedigree, him landing either one of the Ravens or Steelers jobs is far from a given. Currently, Rams DC, Chris Shula is the favorite to land the job in Pittsburgh, and Chargers DC, Jesse Minter is the leading candidate to do the same in Baltimore.
So interviewing with Green Bay is far from out of the question. And if the Packers open their chequebook, it could be that a new challenge with a more proven quarterback in Jordan Love is exactly what Flores is looking for to chase another Super Bowl, having already won four in New England.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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