Flores hiring expected to happen Monday

Pats assistant to begin after Super Bowl

Once Super Bowl LIII is over, the Miami Dolphins will finally be able to name their new head coach.

New England Patriots de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores is expected to be named and introduced as the new Dolphins coach on Monday according to multiple reports after the Patriots face the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl on Sunday night in Atlanta.

Flores, who has spent 15 years in the NFL all with New England, has been a part of three Super Bowl victories and seven total trips to the Super Bowl with the Patriots.

The Dolphins hope to recreate New England’s winning ways in Miami behind Flores, who will be a first-time head coach.

Flores was the first of six candidates to interview for the Dolphins job with team owner Steve Ross and general manager Chris Grier on Jan. 4. He became known as Miami’s top candidate on Jan. 11.

Flores and Grier, who spent his six years in the Patriots front office from

1994-2000, both began their careers with New England, a contributing factor to Flores’ pending hire in Miami.

Flores has been with the Patriots since 2004, where he began as a scout for four years, before he joined the coaching staff in various roles the past 11 years.

This season was the first Flores filled the role of Patriots’ defensive playcaller, despite not having the official title of defensive coordinator. He assumed the role after Matt Patricia left New England to coach the Detroit Lions, and also continued to lead the Patriots linebackers group.

The Patriots finished seventh out of 32 NFL teams holding opposing teams to 20.3 points per game during the regular season. New England also finished third with 18 interceptions (Miami was second with 21), 16th in third-down defense (Miami was 28th), 21st with an average of 359.1 yards allowed (Miami was 29th,

391.1), and 30th with 30 sacks (Miami was 29th with 31) in 2018.

Miami’s last victory of the 2018 season came at home against New England where tight end Rob Gronkowski was questionably on the field for the Dolphins’ game-winning touchdown on Nov.

29.

While Flores’ deal with the Dolphins has been in limbo, he has worked to assemble a coaching staff. At least nine assistant coaches are expected to join Flores in Miami once his hire becomes official.

Flores is expected to hire Patriots receivers coach Chad O’Shea as his offensive coordinator, Green Bay Packers assistant Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator, and former Lions and Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach.

He is also expected to hire former Dolphins assistant coach Karl Dorrell as a wide receivers coach, while adding former Buffalo Bills assistant Danny Crossman as special teams coordinator, and Lions assistant George Godsey as tight ends coach.

New York Giants outside linebackers coach Robbie Leonard, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line coach Marion Hobby and former Jaguars offensive line coach Pat Flaherty are also expected to join Flores’ Dolphins staff. Their roles are not yet defined.

Despite the official title of defensive coordinator and lack of head coaching experience, Flores was considered a hot commodity among NFL teams.

Flores also interviewed for the vacant head coaching jobs with the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Packers this year, and interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals’ job last year.

Flores will be the sixth consecutive head coach hired by Miami that will be a first-time head coach.

The Dolphins also interviewed Dallas Cowboys defensive play-caller Kris Richard, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, former special teams coach Darren Rizzi and former offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains for the position after Adam Gase was fired following Miami’s season on Dec. 31.

Flores, who is Honduran, will be the first Hispanic coach and the second black coach (interim Todd Bowles) in Dolphins history.

Flores will also be the second Hispanic coach in the league (joining Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who is Puerto Rican) and the third black coach in the NFL (along with Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn).

With Flores and Grier, the Dolphins will be the only NFL team to have a black coach and black general manager.

Flores