NFL Rumors: Brian Flores to Interview for Bears HC Job After Dolphins Firing

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 11, 2022

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 11: Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the Baltimore Ravensat Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Chicago Bears will interview Brian Flores for their head coaching vacancy, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The Miami Dolphins fired Flores on Monday. He went 24-25 in three seasons with the team, and Pelissero reported he's "expected to be hot in this cycle."

His ouster came as a surprise. The Dolphins were rebuilding in his first season and nearly made the playoffs in 2020 after going 10-6. While failing to qualify for the postseason in 2021 was a bit of a disappointment, it didn't seem like a fireable offense.

Emmanuel Acho @EmmanuelAcho
The firing of Brian Flores is ridiculous at best and incompetent at worst. Flores won 19 games over 2 years in Miami (the Dolphins haven’t done that since 03) with a QB that is hurt as often as he’s healthy. He finished the year going 8-1. This move is what bad franchises do.

David Helman @HelmanDC
Miami gutted their roster so thoroughly & so openly that they were associated with the phrase “Tank for Tua” for a year before they drafted him. And Brian Flores finished with back-to-back winning seasons in years 2 & 3. Seems strange 🤷🏻‍♂️

Assuming he wants to immediately jump back into coaching, Flores figures to remain on an NFL sideline in some capacity next year. He warrants another opportunity as a head coach or at the very least a shot at a defensive coordinator gig.

Flores is facing some stiff competition in Chicago, though. The Bears have cast a wide net in their search so far.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bears</a> put in an interview request for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Colts?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Colts</a> DC Matt Eberflus, source said. One of the NFL's most respected assistants, Eberflus also will interview with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jaguars?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jaguars</a> on Saturday.

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Chicago has requested permission to interview Bills’ OC Brian Daboll for the Bears’ HC job, per source.

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Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Bears requested permission to interview both Bucs coordinators, OC Byron Leftwich and DC Todd Bowles, per league source. So Bears interested in both Bucs coordinators and both Bills coordinators, Brian Daboll and Leslie Frazier.

Jason La Canfora @JasonLaCanfora
Doug Pederson is scheduling interview with Bears and will end up interviewing with the Vikings and Broncos as well. Already met with Jacksonville

The Bears selected Justin Fields with the No. 11 pick in the 2021 NFL draft in the hope he could be the franchise quarterback they've long lacked. Fields was up and down as a rookie, throwing for 1,870 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

To further his development, hiring a head coach with offensive expertise would make sense. Some of their interview candidates—Byron Leftwich, Brian Daboll and Doug Pederson—fit the bill.

A dominant defense has often been a hallmark of the Bears' best years, though. Chicago won 12 games and looked like a title contender in 2018 in large part because it ranked first in defensive efficiency, per Football Outsiders.

If Flores gets the job, the Bears defense could once again earn its "Monsters of the Midway" moniker.