The New England Patriots have had several assistants go on to become head coaches over the last decade. Josh McDaniels became the Broncos and later the Raiders head coach, Matt Patricia put pen to paper with the Lions, and Brian Flores stayed in the division to coach the Miami Dolphins.
While none are head coaches anymore, they are all having success in their new homes. McDaniels is leading New England's No. 2 offense on a tough playoff path; Patricia was No. 2 at Ohio State's defensive coordinator, and Flores did an excellent job with the Vikings defense this season, as they finished top-12 for the third year in a row.
The former two will likely need more time in alternative roles before they are considered as head coaches again, but Flores will be a big name in the upcoming cycle. The Steelers, who recently saw Mike Tomlin step down, could be a destination, and the Ravens have also interviewed Flores after firing Jim Harbaugh. He also interviewed with the Commanders for their DC position.
Brian Flores could be a head coach sooner than we think
Flores's time as a head coach wasn't great, but it wasn't a disaster. In his first season with the Dolphins, the roster was considered the worst in the league, but he guided the team to a 5-11 record. The following season, the Dolphins would miss the playoffs despite a 10-6 record.
After slipping to 9-8 the next season, he was fired. A 19-14 record across his second and third seasons (.575) gives him a similar winning percentage to Mike Tomlin over the past five seasons.
Flores turned a dismal Dolphins roster into a 10-win team in just 24 months, and that should no doubt excite NFL owners and GMs alike. After making a stop with the Steelers in 2023, he's led the Vikings defense over the past three seasons, each time coordinating a top-12 unit. In the last two seasons, their defense has ranked in the top 7.
Given his Steelers connection, taking over Tomlin's post seems very realistic. The physicality of the AFC North also aligns with his coaching style, which could make the Ravens a fit. It seems unlikely he'd actually accept a DC elsewhere despite interviewing for the Commanders' job: it seems far more likely the Vikings would do what it takes to bring him back to Minnesota.
The Raiders are a place that has been mentioned as a potential Patriots West, with Tom Brady involved in ownership and a Brian Flores-Brian Daboll head coach-OC duo. It's not impossible, but there are teams with more established rosters elsewhere, and there's no guarantee Daboll will have any interest in Vegas.
The Patriots won't be in the market for Flores as a DC, even though it would be to bring him back to New England. DC Terrell Williams and de facto DC Zak Kuhr have done an excellent job with the defense this year, as New England will have their own set of decisions to make involving the pair of them on the defensive side of the ball.
Whether it be back with the Vikings or with the Commanders as a DC, or better yet, as a head coach, Brian Flores will be back on the sideline in 2026 as one of the most highly thought of coaches in the league.
Though Bill Belichick is unlikely to ever make a return to the NFL, it's great to see his coaching tree still thriving.