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Three weeks into the recent NFL season, there was a sense of rejuvenation and reinvention in Minnesota, with Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold becoming the epicenter of a great redemption story.

Darnold, on his fourth NFL team, enters the league’s fourth week ranked second in the league in passing yards, first in touchdown passes, fifth in yards per attempt and has just two interceptions in three games.

After three disappointing seasons with the New York Jets, Darnold was sent to the Carolina Panthers, and after a disappointing performance in Carolina, he was sent to the San Francisco 49ers as a backup.

While Darnold’s performance to date has been a revelation, the most impactful story in the NFL could also be on the other side of the ball in Minnesota, where defensive coordinator Brian Flores has shaped the Vikings into one among the most dominant defenses in the league.

Flores is the talk of the league ahead of Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, together with praise for his unique — some might call it revolutionary — defensive style. Through the first three weeks of the season, the Vikings lead the NFL in sacks (11) and quarterback hits (19), and lead the league in quarterback pressures with 36. The Vikings are third in points allowed. After a 23-17 loss to the Vikings on September 15, the 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy I met Flores on the field and told him, “Your plan is crazy.”

However, there’s a difference between Darnold’s redemption story and Flores’ story, which may very well be called a vindication quest. While Darnold is doing something he has never done in his NFL profession, Flores is doing what everyone knew he could do, or quite what was expected of him. He is a cruel and no-nonsense defensive coordinator who made his mark early in the season.

The greater query looming over Flores is whether or not he’ll get a second likelihood to grow to be an NFL head coach.

Flores is just not your average coaching candidate. Not only was he already an NFL coach, but he also became involved with the league and had the courage to sue it over the long-standing issue of hiring African-American coaches.

In February 2022, Flores filed a class motion lawsuit against the NFL, alleging racial discrimination. His allegations included specific claims against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, and he was later joined by two more former NFL coaches. Currently, most lawsuits are pending in NFL arbitration.

There was immediate speculation that Flores would receive the same treatment as former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was essentially barred by team owners from playing in the league again in 2016 after he protested by kneeling during the national anthem. However, there’s a significant difference. Kaepernick used his platform to bring attention to injustice outside the arena. Issues discussed included police violence and economic injustice.

Flores, on the other hand, was simply difficult the NFL team to keep its vow to ensure fair and equal treatment for African-Americans who aspired to be coaches.

No matter what the Vikings defense does this 12 months under Flores, his lawsuit is hanging over his head.

“I think common sense dictates that as long as the suit is available, it will be in people’s minds, if not at the forefront of their minds,” Rod Graves, executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, said in a telephone interview. on Wednesday. Since its founding in 2003, the Fritz Pollard Alliance has actively fought, especially to promote African Americans as coaches and front-office executives in the NFL.

Whether Flores gets one other head coaching job depends upon a referendum on how long the league chooses to hold a grudge – or whether it holds a grudge in any respect and easily commits to doing the right thing.

“Just the fact that he’s a coach in the National Football League is a positive sign that the league has made progress and is actually willing to do that,” Graves said.

Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. After filing the lawsuit, Flores was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a senior defensive assistant. I talked to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin a few months ago and he said the hiring of Flores didn’t occur just because Flores had an exceptional defensive mind, but because he couldn’t stand by and watch Flores lose the ball.

“If I hadn’t hired this guy, man, would he be employable right now?” Tomlin said.

Flores interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns before accepting a position with the Vikings in February 2023.

During his introductory press conference with the Vikings, Flores was asked about his lawsuit. Although he didn’t go into details, he said: “Of course, diversity can be necessary to me. I actually have no intention of running away from this. But after I walk into this constructing, there is really comprehensive diversity in every department. That’s exciting too. So these are things which are a work in progress. Of course, the lawsuit is pending, but I stand my ground. Right now my feet are here in Eden.

The topic got here up again this spring when Flores met with reporters in Minnesota. He was asked if he was involved in the recent rounds of coaching interviews that resulted in the hiring of 4 African-American coaches.

“I didn’t have and don’t really have any control over this situation,” he said. “I’ll say that I’m very joyful where I’m. It was a great off-season. It’s been a very long time since I spent a lot time with my family in the off-season without moving. It’s been a while, but to answer your query: no. But I’m in a great position, I’m very joyful and excited to work with our guys and coach my boys.

Did he think his lack of opportunity had something to do along with his lawsuit?

“There is no way to know,” he said. “It’s not something I spend a lot of time thinking about. I try to stay where my feet are, here with the Vikings. I try not to worry about the things that I can’t control and focus on the things that I can control or some of the things that I can control, like making plans for these players, for this team and doing the best I can, where I am.”

​In so many words, Flores said he still wants to be a coach. “I just do the best I can where I’m. And wherever the chips fall, that is where they fall,” he said. “There are a lot of great coaches on this league. So I feel all I can do is prepare, do the right thing, give it my all, help the team as much as I can and I’ll let the odds fall where they fall.

In three seasons in Miami, Flores had two winning seasons and reported conflicts with the front office and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. We didn’t know the extent of the rift with Tagovailoa until August 19, when Tagovailoa made a statement about Flores on the podcast and went so far as to say Flores is a “terrible person.”

Tagovailoa issued a variety of complaints to Flores. The bottom line was that Flores was not as supportive and caring as he would have liked. Flores responded to Tagovailoa at his own press conference shortly after the podcast aired. He said he was joyful for Tagovailoa and wished him the best.

“Look, I’m human,” Flores told reporters. “So it hit me in a way that I would not say was positive for me. But at the same time, I actually have to take it and say, “Hey, how can I grow from this or how can I be better?” And from this perspective, that is where I’m at.

“Do I feel like this is me? 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?”

Perhaps Flores’ decision to go to Minnesota reflected an understanding that there was still room for growth, which he alluded to when referring to a Pittsburgh pastor who said, “you can either have control or you can have growth.” And you possibly can’t have each.”

In May, Flores participated in what the NFL calls its accelerator program. which allows potential coaching candidates to connect with former CEOs through a series of mock interviews. Graves was there and the feedback he received about Flores was impressive.

“He was outstanding. I mean, he was special in every way,” Graves said. “I feel what touched me most was how humble he was and the way honest he was about the lessons he had learned.

“When he crossed the threshold, there was no trace of anger or bitterness in him. He didn’t make me feel like I deserved anything or anything like that.”

Graves said they didn’t discuss Flores’ lawsuit. “He just wanted to come in and show that he was ready to lead and very capable of providing leadership as a head coach, and he did that,” Graves said.

Darnold and Flores have a good distance to go this NFL season. The quarterback is in search of profession redemption, the coach is in search of justice for himself and future Black coaches.

If Flores is given a second likelihood to coach in the NFL, his hiring can be truly significant and a milestone in the league’s conflicted relationship with hiring black coaches.

“That would be an indication that the league is in a different place,” Graves said. “If he can get back into the chair, I think we have to consider it a significant improvement. The question is whether this will get us to where we need to be for consistency remains to be seen.”

Darnold and Flores have a long season ahead of them and a very steep mountain to climb. But the league also has the burden of proof.

We often discuss the importance of second possibilities. In Flores’ case, a second likelihood would even be a key benchmark for the NFL.