Kevin O'Connell on Tua Comments: Brian Flores Has 'Great Relationships' on Vikings

Following comments from Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that painted the coaching style of Brian Flores in a negative light, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has come to the defense of his defensive coordinator.

Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, O'Connell was asked about Tagovailoa's comments and replied, "I don't like to comment on comments of other players on other teams, but I can just tell you I know that the players Flo works with, he's got great relationships here."

Flores was head coach of the Dolphins for the first two years of Tagovailoa's career.

During an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show on Monday, the Miami quarterback opened up about the stark contrast between how he was treated by Flores and current head coach Mike McDaniel:

"To put it in simplest terms, 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 come in and tell you, 'Dude, you are the best fit for this. You are accurate. You are the best whatever,'" Tagovailoa said. "How would it make you feel listening to one or the other?"

Flores was surprisingly fired after the 2021 season after leading a rebuilding Miami roster to a respectable 24-25 combined record over three years.

He filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the NFL, the Dolphins and two other teams alleging that he was a victim of racial discrimination and that he was directed to tank during the 2019 season by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, among other claims. A judge ruled in 2023 that his lawsuit would proceed to trial.

Flores was hired as Vikings defensive coordinator in 2023 and proved to be a difference-maker, taking a unit that ranked 31st in the NFL in 388.7 yards allowed per game in 2022 and helping it improve to 16th last year with 333.2 yards allowed per game.

The Dolphins and Vikings are teams that are expected to contend for a playoff spot this season, so perhaps Tagovailoa and Flores will get the opportunity to face each other on the field at some point down the line.