The Steelers are getting an extra look at a familiar face in their head coaching search.
Pittsburgh will host Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores for a second in-person interview this week, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Steelers have already met with Flores after Mike Tomlin stepped down on Tuesday.
Flores, 44, was the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019-22 before being let go. He filed a class-action discrimination lawsuit against the NFL and three teams in 2022. He wasn’t
hired by a team for any role until the Steelers brought him into the organization.
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers hired Flores to be a linebackers coach and defensive assistant for the 2022 season, before being named defensive coordinator in Minnesota the following year. The Vikings defense ranked in the top five in the NFL in passing yards (158.5 – 2nd), total yards (301.8 – 3rd), and third-down percentage (34.5% – 4th).
Owner Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan are leading the process, with others providing assistance.
The Steelers have reportedly interviewed Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley since Friday.
They have requested to speak to Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Chargers DC Jesse Minter, Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, and 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak.
Dulac also reported the Steelers plan on interviewing Pittsburgh native and Greenfield’s own Mike McCarthy, who beat the Steelers as Green Bay Packers head coach in Super Bowl XLV.
Only two of the nine head coach openings have been filled. The Giants finalized a five-year deal with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, and the Falcons named former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as their new leader over the weekend.
