Brian Flores responds to Tua Tagovailoa criticism: 'There's things that I could do better'

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brain Flores says he has grown as a coach and wishes quarterback Tua Tagovailoa success one day after the Dolphins quarterback called out Flores' coaching style.

"I'm happy, genuinely happy for the success that Tua has had and I really wish him nothing but the best," Flores told reporters on Tuesday.

Flores' comments come after Tagovailoa spoke about the contrast in coaching styles between his former coach and current coach Mike McDaniels during an appearance on "The Dan Le Batard Show". Flores was the head coach of the Dolphins from 2019 through 2021 and was fired in January 2022, despite an 8-1 finish to the 2021 season.

"If you woke up every morning and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this other guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this," Tagovailoa said. "And then someone comes and tells you, 'Dude, you are the best fit for this. You are accurate. You are the best whatever, the best this or that' — like, how would it make you feel listening to one or the other?"

Flores said he's done a lot of reflecting since hearing the comments and admitted he had some faults in Miami. He didn't say anything Tagovailoa said was untrue or misinterpreted, and part of being a coach is correcting things about themselves.

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"There's things that I could do better, for sure, and I've grown in that way, and I've tried to apply the things that I could do better and the things that I've learned, over the last two-three years," he said.

"Look I’m human. 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 'how can I grow from that? How can I be better?'"

The defensive coordinator added he'd be open to having a conversation with Tagovailoa if the possibility ever arises, but he's focused on the Vikings and the 2024 season for now.

"I'm at a point now where I'm really trying to move forward. I'm really trying to focus on the guys here," he said. "I think at some point you got to turn the page, and I'm going to do that."

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