The Bengals and Dolphins are the only NFL teams with head coaching vacancies remaining, and while the Bengals are reportedly targeting Rams assistant Zac Taylor, the Dolphins are hoping to steal a coach away from an AFC East rival. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that the Dolphins intend to hire Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores whenever New England’s playoff run comes to an end. Flores, 37, played linebacker at Boston College, and has spent his entire professional coaching career with the Patriots. Flores joined the team as a scouting assistant in 2004. In 2018, he also served as the Patriots’ defensive playcaller. According to Rapoport, Flores has been the Dolphins’ top choice since the team fired Adam Gase. “Flores impressed during this entire process, both of course with his command of the Xs and Os, but mostly his command of the locker room. This is a dominating presence, someone who is widely respected around the NFL, both for what he does defensively and how he works with players. How he appeals to all kinds of players. …. From my understanding, Brian Flores was really the favorite all along. He was the guy that inside their building they really saw as the face of their franchise as they start this rebuild. And whenever the Patriots are told, I am told they do intend to make him their next head coach.”<doc-sep>If and when the Miami Dolphins are finally able to to schedule a news conference to introduce head coach Brian Flores, he'll be there. Flores is coaching under Bill Belichick, who once used his introductory news conference as New York Jets head coach to resign. Flores is coaching with Josh McDaniels, who once decided not to show up for his introductory new conference as Indianapolis Colts coach, even though his hiring had already been announced. Flores is a bit busy right now, preparing to call defensive plays for the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC championship game. But whenever his season ends, is there any chance at all, that Flores would even consider a Belichickian-McDanielslike reversal? "Zero point zero percent chance," a person familiar with the situation says. Flores wants the job. He's comfortable with the plan to build what he agrees is the right way, through the draft and not with band-aid signings of free agent veterans. Flores' situation is different than those of Belichick and McDaniels as he is younger, has less play-calling experience and is about to be granted an opportunity to lead the Dolphins a bit sooner than some anticipated. Belichick knew he had an opportunity to be head coach of the Patriots when he famously wrote on a piece of loose-leaf in 2000 he was resigning as "HC of the NYJ." McDaniels knew he'd receive a raise and the possibility of one day replacing the legendary Belichick in New England when he ankle-broke the Colts after last season. Belichick and McDaniels both reportedly had concerns about the ownership in New York and Indianapolis. Flores is comfortable with how his meeting with owner Stephen Ross and general manager Chris Grier went. In fact, Flores already had a relationship with Grier, whose father Bobby, like him, once worked in the Patriots organization. There is no reason to believe Flores won't be fairly compensated by Ross, and also allowed to build a fairly-compensated staff with some veteran influence. Flores will be tasked with leading and teaching a youthful, rebuilding roster. But he won't be prohibited from having any veterans on the team. For example, there is a good chance he'll bring back Danny Amendola, the veteran receiver and former Patriot who would set an example of the way Flores wants his players to prepare and practice. Because of the connection to Belichick and McDaniels, it is logical some in the media or even around the league have half-joked they'll know for sure Flores is a Dolphin when the contract is signed and press conference complete. And it is fascinating to look back at how the McDaniels withdrawal and Belichick Jets-coach-for-a-day catastrophe was reported. Last February, McDaniels backed out of an agreement to be the next Colts head coach. After the team had announced it. Two days after a Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia. Indy had waited 22 days, due to league rules, to hire him. McDaniels hadn't signed a contract. A news conference had been called for Wednesday. Future coordinators such as Matt Eberflus had already signed contracts. And then a meeting with Patriots owner Robert Kraft changed everything. McDaniels would stay. Wrote Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star: "Be embarrassed, Indianapolis Colts, but also be relieved. Josh McDaniels is a punk and a loser, but he’s not your punk. He’s not your loser. He’s not your head coach, thank God. "Imagine, knowing what we know right now, infecting this franchise with that fraud. And make no mistake: He's one of the biggest frauds in the NFL." Only one NFL team interviewed McDaniels, who had once failed as a young Broncos coach, for a head job this season and he's already announced he'll return to New England in 2019. One concern McDaniels reportedly had was the throwing shoulder of Andrew Luck. That turned out to be fine, and so too was first-year Colts coach Frank Reich. The Dolphins don't have a quarterback of the future. But Flores understands Miami's plan to land one, in 2019 or 2020. Notice we are not excluding the possibility the Dolphins could add a rookie quarterback this season. McDaniels' mentor, Belichick, resigned as Jets coach in 2000, less than a day after he was hired. And he did it with a handwritten note. Fifteen minutes before his introductory press conference, Belichick told Bills Parcells, who was stepping aside as Jets head coach , he would resign. Belichick had asked Parcells for permission to interview with the Patriots over concerns about ownership. Belichick then read a statement to reporters. He was eventually traded to the Patriots for a first-round pick. In yet another crazy layer to the story, Belichick was actually head coach the Jets for a week in 1997, as the team was trying to lure Parcells away from New England. "Jets settle for Bill Belichick," read a New York tabloid headline. Parcells eventually came for draft picks and Belichick was demoted back to assistant head coach, with a promise to eventually succeed him, which he did, for a day. After Belichick's resignation, the New York Post headline read: "Belichicken: Jets Better off without Quitter." Yeah, not so much. Of course Belichick and McDaniels are not the only coaches to ever renege on an agreement to coach a team. Parcells reportedly did just that, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, twice. Former Florida men's basketball coach Billy Donovan once took the Orlando Magic job, before changing his mind. There is nobody, however, who is saying Flores is having any second thoughts. While his focus is clearly on the AFC Championship game, the wheels of assembling his future Dolphins staff have been in motion. Flores believes he'll be aligned with Grier and ownership in their plan to develop a championship template. He's excited. He wants this job. For the Dolphins, the press conference can't happen soon enough. NFL Playoffs: Former Dolphins Damien Williams and Ndamukong Suh key for Chiefs, Rams Schad: Brian Flores and Miami Dolphins QB plan deserve your patience jschad@pbpost.com @schadjoe<doc-sep>
TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 30: Safeties coach Brian Flores gets the balls ready for drills during the New England Patriots Super Bowl XLIX Practice on January 30, 2015 at the Arizona Cardinals Practice Facility in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) The Miami Dolphins have apparently decided on their next head coach and will be taking Brian Flores away from the New England Patriots. According to a report by @RapSheet, the Miami Dolphins will make Brian Flores the next head coach once the New England Patriots season is over. The Patriots are at home against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Source: The Dolphins are expected to hire Patriots LBs coach Brian Flores as head coach after New England’s season ends. @RapSheet first on it. — Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 11, 2019 Brian Flores has 14 years experience with the New England Patriots but not all as a coach. He started as a regional scout and become an NFL scout then turned to coaching as an assistant in various roles before becoming the linebacker coach. In 2018 Flores was the defacto defensive coordinator for the Patriots leading the unit to the 7th ranked team in point allowed per game. There has been rumors circulating that Flores and Grier had a connection and it appears that to be the case. Original reports had Flores’ first interview not going very well but he never had a second interview which now would put that initial rumor to rest. Other reports said the interview went very well. Apparently it did. Flores will take over a team that is in a major transition phase that includes potential overhauls at various positions including quarterback. The hire, when and if, will put Miami as the only team in the NFL with a “minority” general manager and head coach. Chris Grier has been running the head coaching search since day but owner Stephen Ross has been standing beside him through the process. Today the Dolphins interviewed special teams coach Darren Rizzi and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. It now appears that Miami has made their decision and Brian Flores will be the man tasked with turning around the franchise.