Ranking the 10 best NFL head coach candidates in 2025

4. Brian Flores

Flores flamed out somewhat quickly during his first stint as a head coach with the Miami Dolphins and has received some criticism for his coaching style since, most notably from Tua Tagovailoa. However, Flores’ football IQ on the defensive side of the ball continues to stand out, and it’s likely a team will take another chance on him sooner rather than later. Flores is a Bill Belichick disciple who was an assistant for the Patriots for over a decade before landing the job in Miami, leading a team that was often thought to be tanking at the time to a 24-25 record across three seasons. Flores has rehabbed his value as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers and over the past two seasons as defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings who have had one of the top defenses in the league in 2024, allowing just 19.5 points per game.