Brian Flores projected to stay with Patriots as Cardinals expected to hire Steve Wilks as head coach

The New England Patriots' coaching staff is expected to see significant turnover after the Super Bowl. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is all but certain to leave the team to become the next head coach of the Detroit Lions, while both offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and special teams coordinator Joe Judge are also candidates to leave the team for free jobs elsewhere.

Also on the list of potential losses is linebackers coach Brian Flores. The 36-year old, who has been with the Patriots his entire coaching career and worked his way up from coaching assistant to his current role, was in the running for the Arizona Cardinals' vacant head coaching job – “was” because if a report by AZ Central's Kent Somers is to be believed, it appears that he no longer is.

According to Somers, the Cardinals are expected to hire Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to fill the shoes of former head coach Bruce Arians.

Hiring Wilks would have a trickle-down effect on the Patriots: Flores being out of the race for the Cardinals' head coaching spot would mean that he could now stay in New England to take over as the Patriots' new defensive coordinator once the Patricia leaves for Detroit. Of course, a lot can change in the next few weeks but as things stand right now, the Patriots should be pretty happy to see the Cardinals hire Wilks.