Steelers hire former Dolphins HC Brian Flores as senior defensive

The Pittsburgh Steelers found a supremely qualified individual to fill their previously vacant roles at senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach. Brian Flores, who recently concluded a three-year run as the Miami Dolphins‘ head coach, will fill both positions with the Steelers, the club announced Saturday. 

Flores, who earlier this month sued the NFL for racial discrimination, went 19-14 during his final two seasons as the Dolphins’ coach. Prior to coaching the Dolphins, the 40-year-old coach spent 15 seasons with the Patriots that included stints as special teams, linebackers and safeties coach. New England won four Super Bowls during Flores’ run with the organization. 

“I am excited about Brian Flores joining our coaching staff given his history of developing and teaching defensive players during his time in the NFL,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “Brian’s resume speaks for itself, and I look forward to him adding his expertise to help our team.”

Flores will succeed Teryl Austin as Pittsburgh’s senior defensive assistant after Austin was promoted to defensive coordinator. As linebackers coach, Flores will work closely with Jerry Olsavsky, who has served as the Steelers’ inside linebackers coach since the 2015 season. 

“We congratulate Coach Flores on his new position with the Steelers and thank Coach Tomlin and the organization for giving him this great opportunity,” Flores’ attorneys said in a statement, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “While Coach Flores is now focused on his new position, he will continue with his race discrimination class action so that real change can be made to the NFL.” 

In Pittsburgh, Flores will get a chance to work with reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt and All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. Flores will also be reunited with two-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was traded from Miami to Pittsburgh during Flores’ first season as the Dolphins’ head coach. 

Flores was hired by the Dolphins in 2019 after helping the Patriots hold the Rams to just three points in Super Bowl LIII. Two years earlier, while serving as New England’s linebackers coach, the Patriots defeated the Falcons in Super Bowl LI after linebacker Dont’a Hightower’s strip-sack of Matt Ryan ignited the largest come-from-behind win in Super Bowl history. In 2008, his first season as special teams coach, Flores worked with…