Brian Flores offers a measured response to comments from Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa about their time together

All eyes turned to former Miami Dolphins head coach and current Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on Tuesday afternoon.

One day after Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa took a public blowtorch to him on the Dan LeBatard Show on Monday regarding his treatment of the former during their time together in Miami, including allegedly telling the QB that he sucked, Flores had the chance to respond.

To his credit, Flores offered a fair, candid, and lengthy but tempered response.

"Specific to the comments that were made by Tua, I just want to say, look, I'm genuinely happy, genuinely happy for the success that Tua's had, and I really wish him nothing but the best," Flores said to open his press conference on Tuesday.

"I think player relationships are very important to me. I think that's kind of the foundation of coaching. I got into coaching because I was impacted as a young guy by my high school coaches, my college coaches, going all the way to Pop Warner. I got into coaching because I wanted to make that same kind of impact -- positive impact -- pour into young people, help them become - as [Kevin O'Connell] says all the time - the best versions of themselves. That's really my goal always in coaching. So, I wish nothing but the best to Tua."

"Look, I'm human," Flores said about the comments on Tagovailoa referring to him as a terrible person. "So, that hit me in a way that I wouldn't say was positive for me. But at the same time, I've got to use that and say, 'Hey, how can I grow from that, or how can I be better?' And that's really where I'm at from that standpoint.  Do I feel like that's me? No. But how can I grow from that situation and create a world where that's not the case that anyone says that about Brian Flores?"

Flores also talked about how the opportunity to get better as a coach despite having the respect from individuals around the league.

"I think part of coaching is correcting.  I'm always going to correct.  I'm always going to have a high standard.  I've done a lot of reflecting on the situation.  Reflecting on the situation and communication. I think there's things that I can do better for sure, and I've grown in that way. I've tried to apply the things that I can do better and the things that I've learned over the last 2-3 years. But I'd say over the long haul, I've had a lot of great relationships over my 21-year career here in the league. Players, coaches, personnel, equipment, people in the kitchen. Really across the board I've had a lot of great relationships. I'm going to continue to do that.

"But I'm also always looking to get better and evolve.  No different than as a coach.  Whether it's schematics or personnel or evaluations.  I'm always looking to get better. I'm always looking for dialogue in meetings with coaches, with players. I don't care where a good idea comes from.  You guys have heard me say that.  I'm open to getting better, and that's always my mindset."

Whether Flores would talk to Tua again, he said he's open to that.

"That's something I've thought about. Maybe if that time arises or is available, I'm certainly open to that," Flores said. "But I've got a lot of other things going on, too, as he does. Again, I'm just really focused on the guys here and the work that we're putting in here."

Who knows whether Tua would be willing to talk with Flores.  It sounds like there's some very deep-rooted animosity on his side of things, at least.

However, for Flores' credit, he did manage to come off as humble and having used it as a means for internal self-reflection.  Of course, whether that actually proves to be the case won't really be on display unless and until he gets another shot to serve as a head coach again and be in control of player management like he was.

For now, the two aren't scheduled to be on the same field again until the 2026 season, when the Dolphins travel to Minneapolis to face the Vikings.  Provided Flores is still the defensive coordinator, that should provide the first opportunity to see if Tua is willing to move on from things.

It certainly sounds like Flores is.

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