Flores, Evero stay names to observe in Vikings defensive coordinator search
The Vikings have a pair of robust candidates for his or her defensive coordinator job as their search stretches into its third week. The intricacies of the NFL’s interview course of, although, imply they’re at the very least a couple of days from discovering Ed Donatell’s alternative.
In line with a supply with information of the scenario, the Vikings positioned a proper request on Friday to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who labored with coach Kevin O’Connell for 2 seasons in Los Angeles.
As a result of Evero stays beneath contract with Denver, nevertheless, new Broncos coach Sean Payton must grant permission for him to interview for different jobs. Payton had not finished in order of Friday night time, although the Broncos plan to interview different candidates for his or her defensive coordinator job. He has a detailed relationship with former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett, who employed him as Denver’s defensive coordinator a yr in the past earlier than O’Connell turned the Vikings’ head coach. If Evero is permitted to interview for the Vikings’ job, he might finally be the group’s choice.
Steelers assistant head coach Brian Flores additionally stays excessive on the Vikings’ record, after interviewing in Minnesota on Jan. 26. He was on the Patriots’ workers when O’Connell was a quarterback there from 2008-09. Evero and Flores nonetheless have possibilities at head teaching jobs; Evero interviewed twice for the Colts job, whereas each males have interviewed for the Cardinals’ opening.
If neither Evero nor Flores winds up in Minnesota, the Vikings might flip to assistant head coach Mike Pettine, a former NFL head coach and longtime defensive coordinator who interviewed for the job final month and continues to be within the working.
Whereas the Broncos haven’t but permitted Evero to interview with the Vikings, they positioned a request with the Steelers to talk to Flores, who had interviewed for Denver’s head teaching job in 2019 and named the Broncos as one of many defendants in his 2022 lawsuit alleging racial bias within the NFL’s head teaching interview course of. Seahawks affiliate head coach Sean Desai, who can be a candidate in Denver, had interviewed for the Vikings’ job, as nicely.
Whether or not the Broncos permit Evero to interview with the Vikings or whether or not they block him, the Vikings’ search might decide up velocity quickly. Their interviews have coated a variety of defensive approaches, from the person protection schemes Flores first discovered beneath Invoice Belichick to the concepts former Saints co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen delivered to the desk earlier than accepting the Falcons’ defensive coordinator job.