Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
‘I’m going to be tough. I’m going to be demanding’
On ESPN podcast, Brian Flores speaks on several topics, including coaching style
Brian Flores pursued his football dream to land the Miami Dolphins job last month, and he does not intend to stop dreaming any time soon.
One goal in the distant future would be to win a Super Bowl as a head coach, which Flores said will take a “one-day-at-a-time process,” which began when he was hired by Miami on Feb. 4.
Flores spoke about his rise through the New England Patriots organization to landing the Dolphins coaching job, thanks to the strong foundation set by his parents and former coaches, while appearing on ESPN reporter Adam Schefter’s podcast this week.
“I’d say we should all dream big … but at the same time you’ve got to be ready to work,” Flores said. “It’s not always going to be easy. You’re going to deal with adversity — I slept on an air mattress for a year. You’re going to have to make sacrifices. And you can’t make excuses.”
“That’s something I’m going to impart on this team … and that’s something I’m going to talk about to my kids when they’re ready, too. These are my core values, things that I believe wholeheartedly, and I’ve lived them. I’m young, but I’ve lived them. And hopefully, I’m not done dealing with adversity and making an impact, and winning.”
Flores, a first-time head coach after 15 years with the Patriots, is expected to lead the Dolphins franchise through its rebuilding effort with hopes of eventually making deep playoff runs and achieving sustainable success.
Flores spoke about his time in New England, where he first started in 2004 as an intern retrieving coffee to joining the Patriots coaching staff as an assistant coach, and how it shaped his coaching style
and philosophy.
Flores hopes to translate his lessons learned in New England, which included helping Bill Belichick and Tom Brady win four Super Bowls, to his time with the Dolphins.
“I’m going to be tough. I’m going to be demanding. But they’re going to know I care about them and they’re going to know I love them,” Flores said of creating a new culture with his new players.
“And because of that, I can be even tougher and even more demanding. But I believe that’s how you get the most out people. I think we all need a kick in the butt to reach our highest potential.”
As the Dolphins acclimate under Flores, he hopes to shape the team in his own light.
Flores is looking for players and staff members throughout the Dolphins organization to be humble, hard-working and teamoriented.
“I think this game is such a beautiful game in that you really need to get 11 guys on the same page,” Flores said. “You have to get people to work really hard together to get the product you want out on the field. If you’ve got guys who are worried about themselves, or worried about their individual stats or their contracts, or they’re not putting the team first, then it’s hard for the team to be the best version of themselves.
“And that’s my ultimate goal as a coach: to help people succeed, help the team succeed, and help this team and each individual be the best version of themselves.”
Flores reiterated the main reason he took the Dolphins coaching job was because his vision for running an NFL franchise aligned with those of team owner Steve Ross and general manager Chris Grier.
When asked about Miami’s direction at the quarterback position, where the team is expected to move on from sevenyear veteran Ryan Tannehill, Flores remained aligned in the team’s noncommittal message about Tannehill’s future in Miami.
“Everything is in process right now. We’ve evaluated the roster, or we’re evaluating the roster,” Flores said. “Obviously, that’s a very important position. … So we’re evaluating our team, the players on our team, all the players in free agency, all the players in the draft. It’s an ongoing process.
“In all situations, we’re going to do what’s best for the Miami Dolphins — period. You’re going to hear that over, and over, and over again from me.”