Following recent critical comments from Tua Tagovailoa, current Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores expressed regret on Tuesday for the way he handled his relationship with the Dolphins quarterback while Flores served as head coach in Miami.
During an interview on Monday on “The Dan Le Batard Show,” Tagovailoa described being told, essentially, “you suck” and “you shouldn’t be here” while being coached by Flores. The quarterback even used the words “terrible person” in his example.
Flores said Tuesday he wished Tagovailoa continued success and “only the best.” However, Flores added that the comments affected him in a way he “wouldn’t describe as positive.”
“I have to take that and say, ‘How can I grow from this? How can I get better?’ That’s really my standpoint,” Flores said. “Do I feel like that’s who I am? No. But how can I grow from this situation and create a world where that’s not the case when someone says that about Brian Flores?”
Tagovailoa described a stark contrast between the styles of his current head coach, Mike McDaniel, and Flores on Monday’s “The Dan LeBatard Show.” He recalled Flores’ style as gruff.
GO DEEPER
Tagovailoa remembers the comments of his former coach Flores: “You shouldn’t be here”
When asked if he viewed the relationship the way Tagovailoa described it, Flores replied that he was always looking for improvements.
“I think part of coaching is correcting,” Flores said. “I’m always going to correct. I’m always going to have high standards. And I think I’ve thought a lot about the situation and the communication. I think there are definitely things I could do better and I’ve grown in that regard. I try to apply the things I could do better and the things I’ve learned over the last two or three years.”
Flores, who coached the Dolphins from 2019-2021, said he has built many great relationships during his 21-year career as an NFL coach.
“Players, coaches, staff, equipment, people in the kitchen,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of great relationships everywhere and that will continue to be the case. But I’m always trying to get better and develop further.”
Free daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Free daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign up
Vikings players Josh Metellus and Harrison Phillips accompanied Flores to the press conference and told reporters they wanted to show they supported their coach. Flores said those types of relationships are important to him.
“I got into coaching because I was influenced as a young guy by my high school coach, my college coach and even Pop Warner,” he said. “I got into coaching because I want to have that same kind of influence, a positive influence, and give something to young people.”
Flores said his focus is on the Vikings, but he is willing to meet with Tagovailoa and talk about their issues.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about. And if maybe the time comes or the opportunity arises, I’m definitely open to it,” Flores said.
Required reading
(Photo: Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
