Arizona Cardinals to Interview Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Flores for Top Job

The Arizona Cardinals are considering a recently ousted Miami Dolphins coach for their head coaching vacancy. The team has requested to interview current Steeler linebackers coach Brian Flores.

The #AZCardinals have requested permission to interview #Steelers senior defensive assistant and LBs coach Brian Flores for their vacant HC position, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 13, 2023

The Cardinals and Steelers have maintained a coaching pipeline over recent years. Bruce Arians served as the Steelers' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011 before coaching the Cardinals from 2013 to 2017. Before Arians, the Cardinals were coached by Ken Whisenhunt from 2007 to 2012, who was the Steeler's offensive coordinator from 2004 to 2006.

Flores coached with the Steelers in 2022, but he is best known for his work as head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. He was also a position coach for the New England Patriots from 2012 to 2018, an era in which they won three Super Bowls and played in a fourth. Though he was never officially granted the title of defensive coordinator (the Patriots are weird about titles), he called defensive plays for the Patriots in 2018, a season in which they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII. Flores managed a respectable 24-25 record in his three seasons with the Dolphins before being fired.