Brian Flores responds to Tua Tagovailoa: ‘I wish him nothing but the best’

Brian Flores responds to Tua Tagovailoa comments

Vikings DC Brian Flores on Tuesday responded to disparaging comments made by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Flores was his head coach in Miami for his first two NFL seasons.

EAGAN, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on Tuesday talked for the first time since Tua Tagovailoa made highly-critical comments of Flores on the Dan LeBatard Show Monday. Before Flores event started talking after the Vikings walk-through at TCO Performance Center, he was joined in solidarity by defensive players Josh Metellus and Harrison Phillips.

"Specific to the comments that were made by Tua, I just want to say look, I’m genuinely happy for the success Tua’s had and I really wish him nothing but the best," Flores said. "Player relationships are very important to me. I think that’s kind of the foundation of coaching. That’s really always my goal in coaching. I wish nothing but the best to Tua, more than anything I’m focused on the 2024 Vikings."

Vikings players show support for Brian Flores

Vikings players Harrison Phillips and Andrew Van Ginkel gave their support for Brian Flores Tuesday after Tua Tagovailo's comments on the Dan LeBatard Show.

The context

Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins during Tagovailoa’s first two seasons in the NFL. He said Flores told him he sucked at what he did, and didn’t belong in the NFL. Flores was fired from the Dolphins after the 2021 season.

Tagovailoa also implied that he thought Flores was a terrible person. He said it took two years for the messaging to be undone, and to believe in himself again.

In two seasons under Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa has thrown for more than 8,100 yards and 54 touchdowns, despite missing time in 2022 with concussion issues. Flores said he was hurt by Tagovailoa’s comments, and hopes to grow from them.

"Look, I’m human. That hit me in a way that I wouldn’t say was positive for me. At the same time, I’ve got to use that and say ‘How can I grow from that? How can I be better.’ That’s really where I’m at," Flores said. "Do I feel like that’s me? No. How can I grow from that situation and create a world where that’s not the case where anyone says that about Brian Flores."

‘I’m focused on the 2024 Vikings’

Flores was the linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 before coming to the Vikings to run the defense for Kevin O’Connell last season. The Vikings vastly improved from being one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2022.

This offseason and into training camp, the Vikings have made several defensive additions with one common theme: A connection in some capacity to Flores.

O’Connell gave his full support of Flores on Monday.

"I can just tell you the players Flo works with, he’s got great relationships here. I know you guys have heard a lot of them talk about how much they enjoy playing for him, and how much I enjoy working with him every day," O'Connell said. "That’s all I can really comment on and I’d just like to leave it at that."

What the players are saying

Harrison Phillips and Josh Metellus took the podium after walk-through on Tuesday at TCO Performance Center and stood by Flores in a show of solidarity. Phillips wasn't sure what to expect when the Vikings replaced Ed Donatell with Flores and said he was on edge, but he got what he needed when Flores invited the defense to his home for dinner and bonding.

"Coach Flores has a statement that we always joke around with is ‘You can’t have unique results without unique relationships.' He's done a really great job of developing those unique relationships," Phillips said after practice. "Metellus was just kind of joking like hey let’s go put some loving around Coach Flo. I’m not even super educated on what exactly inspired it, I just know his name surfaced with some negativity. My experience has been extremely positive and I wanted to show my support, my love for Brian Flores."

Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel played for Flores in Miami, and was teammates with Tagovailoa for three seasons. Flores was one of the big reasons he signed with Minnesota in the offseason.

"Obviously we have Flo’s back and trust what he’s building here with this defense and the type of standard that he builds. We’re all just trying to live up to his expectations. He’s the reason I’m the player that I am today, I’m just going to leave Tua’s comments to himself," Van Ginkel said. "I wouldn’t be here without (Flores) at this point in my career."