PITTSBURGH — It’s a chilly, gray October day as Brian Flores stands on a sideline of the Pittsburgh Steelers Practice fields and laughter at your question.
A week and a half from this moment, he’ll step back inside Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since he was fired as the Miami Dolphins He was the Dolphins’ head coach in January, despite having recorded their first back-toback winning seasons since 2003. He subsequently filed a lawsuit On February 1, he filed a lawsuit against his former employer, three more teams, and the NFL for discriminatory hiring practices and firing practices. Ray Horton and Steve Wilks were also named in the lawsuit. have joined as plaintiffs), and the NFL has argued to keep the case out the public eye and into arbitration.
But does that recent history, one that’s become a flashpoint for discussion around race and coaching opportunity, give Flores any extra juice entering Sunday night’s game? It could be a revenge game.
“No, no,” Flores said with a chuckle. “That’s not the way I’m looking at it now.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who hired Flores as a senior defensive assistant in February after Flores called Tomlin for advice, also downplayed Flores’ lawsuit and his return to Miami.
“It’s a nonfactor,” Tomlin said of the pending lawsuit. “It’s irrelevant in terms of what we’re doing here today in preparation for this game. It’s not a story for us. It really is.”
Like Tomlin, Flores is approaching this game with a businesslike mentality, but he’s also acknowledging that there are memories that will come flooding back when he steps off the bus in Miami Gardens. His history with the organization is complicated, and his feelings about returning for Sunday’s game are likely the same. Even so, he smiles as he talks about the relationships he formed with Dolphins athletic trainers Kyle Johnston and Troy Maurer and equipment manager Joe Cimino in Miami, and how much he’s looking forward to seeing them again.
“I don’t have bad memories of the place,” said Flores, who compiled a 24-25 record in three seasons as Miami’s head coach. “I have a lot of good memories, but my focus is here right now.”
“When I think of that place, I think of all the relationships that were built there that are bigger than football and will go a long way beyond football. There are many people that enjoy that place, including players, coaches and support staff. That’s kind of where my thought process goes.”
Flores (41), arrived in Pittsburgh in February. Flores works with Teryl Austin (defensive coordinator) and Tomlin to create a weekly defensive plan. He also coaches linebackers. Flores coaches former first-round inside linebacker Devin BushAfter a 2019 ACL tear that halted a promising start, he was heavily scrutinized and criticised for his inconsistent play. In Flores, Bush found a coach that’s direct in his instruction and gives feedback in weekly grade sheets. Bush stated that it was helpful to have tangible measures of his progress and clearly communicated expectations.
“He expects us to be Superman,” said Bush, who added he had his highest-graded game after the Steelers’ win against the Buccaneers. “If you’re not Superman then you’re not playing to your ability.
“Monday you know you’re going to get a grade sheet, and if you’re not Superman then you’re going to get a bad grade. … Feedback is always good. Whether it’s good, no positive or negative.”
Flores is back in action this week, having defeated an old friend. With his help, the Steelers’ shorthanded defense upset Tom Brady And the Buccaneers are almost double-digit underdogs. And while Flores wasn’t intimately familiar with Tampa Bay’s system, he did provide a crucial window into the quarterback’s mind, knowledge he gained in 10 seasons on the New England Patriots’ coaching staff.
In practice before the Steelers’ 20-18 win, Flores meticulously went over a play where he expected Brady to look from the strongside linebacker before throwing it to the weak side. Brady had his sights set on receiver that Sunday. Chris Godwin On a crossing route in quarter 2. Jack was aware of what was going on, but he was only a step away from Godwin. Brady tried to capitalize on the situation, but he failed to make the throw for an incomplete pass.
“He was spot-on, man,” inside linebacker Myles Jack said. “He was like, ‘It’s going to play out just like this, I’m telling you.’ And that same play happened. He has a great understanding of Tom, and he is very quick to respond. He was like, ‘We have to be where we’re supposed to be, and if we’re misaligned or miscommunicating, he’s going to find it.’”
The Steelers never seemed to be out of sync. Even though there were many new faces, communication was nearly seamless.
Jack signed with the Steelers as a free agent after playing for Flores. Jack and Flores have maintained a good relationship throughout the offseason, and for six weeks during the regular season. Flores calls Jack, the most veteran inside linebacker in the room, the “voice of reason.”
“I think it’s funny,” Jack said. “I think I’m just the guy that’s kind of played the most snaps. Everyone has their perspective. Everyone has their own perspective. We can collaborate on something. I’ll just kind of throw my opinion in there.”
Jack said Flores is meticulous in detailing his plans and direct in his feedback as Bush said he cuts the “fluff,” He is very strict about communication.
It’s one of Flores’ main tenets of coaching, and he frequently takes ideas talked about in the inside linebacker room to other position group meetings to make sure everyone’s speaking the same language.
“He’s a great communicator,” Tomlin said. “You don’t ascend in this business the way he has without having certain tools. And he has consistently displayed those tools since he’s been here.”
Flores, however, is not as open to communication as he would like. He keeps the details of Miami events largely to himself.
“Obviously you hear the headlines and everything on TV and stuff like that, but we have yet to really get his perspective,” Jack said. “Like we try to ask him to mess with him and say little jokes. … Even if we bring it up, he’ll dodge it and won’t even talk about it, keep it about football, beating the Dolphins. While we may have a conversation some day, he keeps it professional. It’s going to be kind of a cool week for him.”
If Flores views Pittsburgh as a temporary stop on his way back to a head-coaching job, he’s not sharing his plans publicly. Shortly after accepting Tomlin’s job offer, Flores bought a house a neighborhood over from Tomlin’s in the heart of Pittsburgh.
“I’m focused on right now,” Flores said. “We’ve got a good group. It’s been a pleasure to coach these players and learn from Mike T. It’s been great fun. It’s a great learning experience for me and that’s kind of where I’m at.”
What does it mean for his future with the Steelers if he buys a house instead of renting?
Flores makes you laugh.
“Talk to my financial advisor.”