Brian Flores fits what Jets need — but many questions must be answered

The Jets have interviewed 10 head coaching candidates already and have another seven that they have requested and are expected to interview.

That list is long but one name that may be the most intriguing on it is Brian Flores.

Flores, a Brooklyn native, is expected to interview virtually with the Jets on Friday. The 43-year-old is a fascinating candidate for the job and may test The 33rd Team, the group assisting the Jets in their search.

Flores is a candidate who has previous experience as a head coach. He spent three years as the Dolphins head coach from 2019-21 and went 24-25, posting winning records in each of his last two years there.

The idea of hiring a head coach with experience in the job is attractive to the Jets, who have hired mostly first-time head coaches during Woody Johnson’s time as owner.

But Flores’ time in Miami also brings with it many questions that need to be answered.

Flores seemingly was not fired by the Dolphins because he was a bad football coach.

Owner Stephen Ross said there was a lack of a “collaborative” environment in the organization with Flores.

Stories emerged of Flores clashing with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, general manager Chris Grier and a number of assistant coaches. The Dolphins had four offensive coordinators in three years under Flores and two defensive coordinators.

Flores was painted as hard to work with and arrogant.

Last week, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played for Flores in Miami in 2019 and ’20, said that Flores became a “dictator.”

“But, when people say, ‘Give me somebody from Miami that coached under you as a reference, so we can talk to them,’ I think he burned a lot of bridges there. I think he alienated himself from the entire staff,” Fitzpatrick said on the “Fitz & Whit” podcast. “Instead of what you were just talking about, having the humility to ask questions, to collaborate, I think by the end of his time there he became a dictator. He ruined a lot of relationships that he built up through the NFL. And his ego grew so big that there wasn’t room for anyone else.”

Fitzpatrick later posted on X that he considers Flores a friend and thinks he has grown from his time in Miami.

That is a major question the Jets have to answer about Flores. After his departure from Miami, he spent one season on Mike Tomlin’s staff with the Steelers and the last two years with Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota.

This is where The 33rd Team can be a resource for the Jets.

While Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman are the faces of the group helping the Jets, they have a number of people behind the scenes doing research on all of the candidates.

You can be certain they have spoken to a number of people who worked with and played for Flores both in Miami and Minnesota.

Flores’ no-nonsense, disciplinarian approach fits what the Jets are looking for. There is a feeling inside the organization that things got too loose under Saleh and players were not held accountable.

Flores fits the mold of a tough coach. But is he too tough?

Tagovailoa was drafted by Flores in 2020 and the two clashed.

Tagovailoa called Flores a “terrible person” in a radio interview last summer. He described Flores tearing him down and hurting his confidence.

Flores recently told The Athletic that he has learned from his mistakes in Miami.

“I think I’m always going to be demanding,” he said. “There’s always going to be a high standard. I don’t think you can win in this league if that’s not the case.

“When I think back on the experience in Miami, there were certainly some mistakes that I made as a young coach, as a young leader, that I think I’ve grown from. I think I’ve evolved and learned from those mistakes. And I think I’m a lot better coach now than I was three or four years ago. And I think we’re seeing a lot of that kind of manifest itself here in Minnesota.”

There is no questioning what Flores has done as a defensive coach. The 14-3 Vikings finished No. 5 in points allowed this season with Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme.

But the Jets need more than a defensive coordinator. They are looking for leadership. They will have to determine whether Flores is that leader.