Just days after receiving his pink slip from the Miami Dolphins, a major shock to many around the NFL, former head coach Brian Flores lined up an interview with the Chicago Bears. It made sense. The man had just led his team to two straight winning seasons. This was in spite of a questionable roster and mediocre quarterback play. He got the most out of what he had. Something any team would be wise to explore.
Flores has plenty of reasons to be interested in Chicago. They have some nice pieces to work with, particularly on defense. He’d also deal with far less invasive ownership in George McCaskey than he had with Stephen Ross in Miami. He had his interview with the team on Friday. According to a source, the 40-year old made a good impression. All of it sounds intriguing. However, there may be a problem.
One that could make his landing in Chicago too difficult.
Insider Jordan Schultz of the Pullup Podcast dropped a miniature bombshell prior to the start of Wild Card Weekend. In a Twitter thread, he revealed that Flores and Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson are working behind the scenes to come together as a pairing with a new team. The Pro Bowl QB is a big admirer of the young coach and wanted to join him in Miami. Unfortunately, his ongoing legal troubles prevented a trade from happening.
Developing story: Deshaun Watson and Brian Flores have been in constant communication trying to navigate a scenario where they go to the same team, per sources. Watson “trusts and likes” Flores and has been adamant internally that he’d like to play for him next season. https://t.co/HhBScUy85m
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 15, 2022
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On the flip side, Flores – who nearly orchestrated Deshaun’s trade to the #Dolphins – believes his best chance to build a winner is with Watson, even if it means going to a less talented roster. I’m told they often speak daily.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 15, 2022
This would help to explain why Flores also interviewed for the Houston Texans job. Not only does he know their GM Nick Caserio well from their time in New England together, but that is also where Watson is still under contract. Still, word persists the QB doesn’t want to play in Houston. He hates ownership and that is why he sat out the entire season. So his ideal scenario sounds like joining Flores on a new team.
Brian Flores may control his own fate if this is true
Presuming Schultz is accurate with this report, it makes the idea of Flores landing in Chicago less likely. If Watson is a dealbreaker for him, then he’ll have to find a different team. The reality is the Bears are in no position to make the kind of blockbuster trade necessary to secure the 26-year old star. Word persists that Houston will expect upwards of three 1st round picks to land him. At least two and significant change.
Remember the Bears are already without their 1st rounder in 2022 because of the Justin Fields trade last offseason. Their only hope would be Houston has interest in Fields as a quarterback and would be willing to accept a package built around him. Even then it would likely require at least their 1st rounder in 2023 to get it done. At some point, the organization has to stop giving up so many high draft picks like that. Not to mention Watson’s huge contract.
It is a big reason they’re in the current mess they find themselves.
Brian Flores is a good coach. He has a solid chance to get the Bears job. However, if he is going to make getting Watson a must in any deal with the team, it is a safe bet the team will look elsewhere. They just don’t have the resources for something like that. It will be interesting to see how this scenario plays out.
