Patriots expected to promote LBs coach Brian Flores to defensive coordinator

The New England Patriots are almost certainly going to lose both defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels this offseason, but it would appear as though they already have a replacement lined up for the former.

On Monday, the Arizona Cardinals announced that they have hired former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to be their next head coach. Brian Flores, the linebackers coach with the Patriots, was also a candidate for that job. Now that he did not get it, the expectation is that he will get a promotion with his current organization.

Patriots blocked LBs coach Brian Flores from interviewing for the 49ers DC job last year, got a little lucky this time around, as he was edged out in Arizona … all leading to what the plan was all along: To have him succeed Matt Patricia as coordinator.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 22, 2018

Flores certainly has plenty of experience in New England’s system. He began as a scout with the team in 2004 and has worked as an assistant on Bill Belichick’s coaching staff since 2008. Patricia took a very similar career path to becoming the defensive coordinator with the Patriots, which is a position he has held since 2012.

When you see the way Belichick embraced Patricia after the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, you might be inclined to think Flores will have big shoes to fill. That’s true to an extent, but there’s a reason he has been on Belichick’s staff for so long. It makes sense that the DC job would be his.