Brian Flores’ Dolphins experience turned him into a ‘dictator’: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Brian Flores’ Dolphins experience turned him into a ‘dictator’: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Brian Flores is one of the many names being floated around as a head coach candidate for the coming year, but one of his former players offered a bit of a warning to other teams that might be interested.

Ryan Fitzpatrick spent two seasons (2019 and 2020) with the Dolphins under Flores — who was fired after the 2021 season — and said the former Miami coach had a very H๏τ-and-cold tenure.

Fitzpatrick, speaking this week on the “Fitz & Whit” podcast, said that during year one in Miami, Flores was both “likable” and “relatable” despite a 5-11 season.

However, Fitzpatrick believed by the time Flores was at the end of his Dolphins tenure, something changed to make him “unrecognizable.”

So much so in fact that the former quarterback said that Flores became akin to a “dictator.”

“But, when people say, ‘Give me somebody from Miami that coached under you as a reference, so we can talk to them,’ I think he burned a lot of bridges there. I think he alienated himself from the entire staff,” he told cohost Andrew Whitworth. “Instead of what you were just talking about, having the humility to ask questions, to collaborate, I think by the end of his time there he became a dictator. He ruined a lot of relationships that he built up through the NFL. And his ego grew so big that there wasn’t room for anyone else.”

Minnesota Vikings Defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks to the scoreboard in the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. AP

Flores finished with back-to-back winning seasons in 2020 and 2021 but was ultimately fired after missing the playoffs each season.

According to a report from the Miami Herald at the time of his ouster, Flores had wanted more power within the Dolphins organization.

After his firing, he has taken ᴀssistant gigs with the Steelers and Vikings, becoming the latter’s defensive coordinator in 2023.

Ryan Fitzpatrick played under Brian Flores in Miami.

This came after he filed a lawsuit against the NFL and a number of teams — including the Dolphins and Giants — alleging discrimination and that some teams offer “sham interviews.”

That legal process has not yet been completed.

Flores told reporters this week that he’s looking forward to speaking with any interested teams.

Brian Flores coached the Dolphins three seasons. AP

“It’s an honor, certainly, that I definitely don’t take that lightly,” Flores said. “I look forward to having those conversations and talking to people about my football journey, my leadership journey.”

Fitzpatrick later wrote on X that he is still friends with Flores and believes the coach as “learned a lot.”

“I really like Brian Flores and consider him a friend….the end in Miami wasn’t pretty but I think he has grown and can look back on his tenure in Miami knowing he wasn’t perfect and has learned a lot,” Fitzpatrick wrote.

The Jets, Jaguars and Bears are among the teams publicly interested in interviewing Flores.

Related Posts

Supercomputer predicts who will make the Super Bowl as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs fight for three-peat

Supercomputer predicts who will make the Super Bowl as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs fight for three-peat

The Kansas City Chiefs are favorites to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX – and complete a historic three-peat.  That is according to data analyzed…

EXCLUSIVEWhat Bill Belichick wants to make shock NFL return weeks after college move amid Tom Brady Raiders links

EXCLUSIVEWhat Bill Belichick wants to make shock NFL return weeks after college move amid Tom Brady Raiders links

Bill Belichick would have to get the ‘biggest coaching deal ever’ to return to the NFL just weeks after becoming UNC’s head coach. Though his contract with North…

Watch as Dolphins teammates learned Tyreek Hill pulled himself out of Jets game

Watch as Dolphins teammates learned Tyreek Hill pulled himself out of Jets game

Tyreek Hill quit on the Dolphins during the third quarter of their loss to the Jets on Sunday, leaving his Miami teammates stunned. The exact moment that…

The major change that helped resurrect Baker Mayfield’s career: ‘Not the way to go about life’

The major change that helped resurrect Baker Mayfield’s career: ‘Not the way to go about life’

Baker Mayfield won’t see your slew of social media insults if he throws an interception on wild-card weekend. The Buccaneers quarterback said Wednesday that he no longer…

Eagle-eyed NFL fans spot the moment Tyreek Hill quit on Dolphins against the Jets

Eagle-eyed NFL fans spot the moment Tyreek Hill quit on Dolphins against the Jets

NFL fans paying close attention to Sunday’s Miami Dolphins’ loss to the New York Jets believe they have pinpointed the exact moment Tyreek Hill quit on his…

Tom Brady’s 5m deal with Fox Sports is over, ex-MLB boss claims in stunning attack on Raiders owner

Tom Brady’s $375m deal with Fox Sports is over, ex-MLB boss claims in stunning attack on Raiders owner

Tom Brady will be running the Las Vegas Raiders full-time next season – and will not return as an analyst on Fox Sports. That’s according to former…