"Brian Flores y Ryan Grigson: La sorprendente química detrás del éxito de los Vikings" - The Athletic

EAGAN, Minnesota. — El abrazo fue contundente, un símbolo conmovedor del sorprendente ascenso de los Minnesota Vikings como contendientes al Super Bowl. A finales del mes pasado, justo dentro del vestuario de visitantes en Lumen Field, dos hombres audaces, musculosos y decididos se fundieron en un abrazo tras la victoria de los Vikings por 27-24 sobre los Seattle Seahawks, lo que provocó sonrisas cómplices entre los testigos, conscientes de su incipiente amistad. Un momento entrañable protagonizado por Brian Flores y Ryan Grigson podría no figurar en los cartones de bingo de la mayoría de los aficionados de la NFL, y mucho menos entre los excompañeros de trabajo de ambos. Sin embargo, ver a Flores, exlinebacker de Boston College, y Grigson, exliniero ofensivo de Purdue, entrelazarse los brazos mientras mostraban amplias sonrisas tenía todo el sentido para quienes interactúan con ellos a diario.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of that hug,” said Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who laughed before extolling the virtues of Flores and Grigson, each best known for experiencing high-profile firings traced partially to abrasive behavior. “But I think it’s awesome. I have really enjoyed getting a chance to be around them every single day. They’ve helped set a standard that has led to us winning a lot of football games. Those guys have been huge pillars of what we’ve been able to accomplish for sure, both on and off the field. It’s a real thing.”

As surreal as it may seem, Flores, Minnesota’s cunning defensive coordinator, and Grigson, its senior vice president of player personnel, are outwardly expressing joy amid the NFL’s most surprising postseason push. The Vikings, who went 14-3 and lost out on an NFC North title after falling to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, earned the NFC’s fifth seed and will face the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Rams in a wild-card playoff game on Monday night. While each man is generating buzz as another hiring cycle commences — Flores will interview with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears about their head-coaching openings and is expected to be a candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders’ job; Grigson will talk to the Jets about their vacant GM post later this week — they’re serenely content in their current gigs and intent on enjoying the ride.