Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores responded on Tuesday to Tua Tagovailoa’s critical comments toward him and of his coaching style, with Flores saying his former Dolphins quarterback’s words hit him hard but that he wishes Tagovailoa well.
“I just want to say, look, I’m genuinely happy, genuinely happy for the success that Tua’s had, and I really wish him nothing but the best,” Flores said at the start of his scheduled Tuesday news conference.
“I think player relationships are very important to me. I think that’s kind of the foundation of coaching. I got into coaching because I was impacted as a young guy by my high school coaches, my college coaches, going all the way to Pop Warner. I got into coaching because I wanted to make that same kind of impact -- positive impact -- pour into young people, help them become the best versions of themselves. That’s really my goal always in coaching. So, I wish nothing but the best to Tua.”
Tagovailoa made headlines on Monday when he referred to Flores as "a terrible person" on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz when asked to compare Flores, who was the Dolphins head coach for Tua's first two seasons prior to being fired in January 2022, to his current HC, Mike McDaniel.
"To put it in simplest terms," Tagovailoa said, "if you woke up every morning, and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don't belong doing what you do, that you shouldn't be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven't earned this right …
“And then you have somebody else (new coach Mike McDaniel) come in and tell you, 'Dude, you are the best fit for this. You are accurate, you are the best whatever, you are this, you are that.' How would that make you feel, listening to one or the other? You see what I'm saying?”
Flores walked up to the podium on Tuesday flanked by two Vikings defenders, Josh Metellus and Harrison Phillips, who were there in a show of support for their coach. Flores told reporters that their support "meant a lot,” and that he’s also received several text messages in support from outside the Vikings’ facility since Tagovailoa's comments.
But Flores also showed candor and vulnerability during his media session on Tuesday, admitting that Tagovailoa’s “terrible person” comment especially hit him hard.
“Look, I'm human,” Flores said. “So, that hit me in a way that I wouldn't say was positive for me. But at the same time, I've got to use that and say, 'Hey, how can I grow from that, or how can I be better?' And that's really where I'm at from that standpoint.
“Do I feel like that's me? No. But how can I grow from that situation and create a world where that's not the case where anyone says that about Brian Flores?”
When asked if he saw their relationship the way Tagovailoa did, Flores said that he believes making corrections is a big part of coaching.
"I’m always going to correct," he said. "I’m always going to have a high standard."
But Flores added that he’s evolved as a coach over the years and has done a lot of reflecting on how the Miami situation unfolded, which has been part of that process.
“I think there’s things that I can do better for sure, and I’ve grown in that way,” Flores told reporters. “I’ve tried to apply the things that I can do better and the things that I’ve learned over the last 2-3 years. But I’d say over the long haul, I’ve had a lot of great relationships over my 21-year career here in the league. Players, coaches, personnel, equipment, people in the kitchen, really across the board I’ve had a lot of great relationships. I’m going to continue to do that.”
Flores said he’s thought about talking to Tagovailoa personally on the matter, even if the timing isn’t great now with the season fast approaching for both men.
“Maybe if that time arises or is available, I'm certainly open to that,” Flores said. “But I got a lot of other things going on, too, as he does. Again, I'm just really focused on the guys here, the work that we're putting in here.”
Perhaps one day, Flores and Tagovailoa will chat when they have time. Their next opportunity might be in Week 6, when both the Vikings and Dolphins are on bye. Until then, it sounds as if Flores is ready to push all the drama to the side and get ready for the 2024 NFL season.