Former Vikings HC to Interview for Chargers’ Top Job
He’s back. Well, he might be.
Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has tossed his hat in the ring for the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coaching job.
Former Vikings HC to Interview for Chargers’ Top Job
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Wednesday, “Former Bills’ defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will interview for the Chargers’ vacant head coaching job, per league source.”
Frazier last served as the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator for six seasons (2017-2022) before two parties amicably split in February 2023. The Bills defense ranked third in the NFL per EPA/Play on his watch.
Participating in the NFL’s Accelerator Program, Frazier said last June via SI.com’s Albert Breer, “Man, early on, this is the third month. So for me, that first month or two, it was hard, man, just trying to find my rhythm and getting used to having free time. It’s been so long, more than 30 years, since I haven’t been on a schedule this time of the year. So it was a challenge just trying to figure out what to do with myself. But over the last three or four weeks, things have gotten a lot better as far as me being organized in how I want to spend my time.”
The man is itching to get back in the sport, rest assured.
Frazier faces stiff competition to land the Chargers’ top job as the franchise has interviewed or requested to interview these men:
- Brian Callahan
- Leslie Frazier
- Aaron Glenn
- Patrick Graham
- Ben Johnson
- Todd Monken
- Kellen Moore
- Raheem Morris
- Giff Smith
- Dan Quinn
- Steve Wilks
“Hopefully, an owner will give me a chance to talk to him about an opportunity. If that doesn’t happen, I’m good. I’ve had a good career. I’m good. My goal is to be a head coach. I know I don’t have much time left, I’m at an age where it seems like owners are going younger and younger, but I think I have some things I can bring to the table. We’ll see what happens,” Frazier added seven months ago.
Frazier interviewed with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants during 2022’s coaching carousel, but the Bears landed on Matt Eberflus while the Giants hired Brian Daboll — the team that beat the Vikings in the postseason about 11 months later.
The ex-Vikings skipper certainly didn’t thrive in Minnesota, but folks are afforded second chances in life and sports. The man unmistakably excelled in Buffalo and perhaps could lead another team with more success than he did with the Vikings from 2011 to 2013. In those seasons, Minnesota posted an 18-29-1 (.385) record, the eighth-worst in the NFL during the timeframe. Too, Frazier was hired as a defensive guru, and the Vikings’ defense ranked 28th in the league per EPA/Play from 2011 to 2013. It was not a fit for either party.
He was also whispered in the rumor mill for the Indianapolis Colts job down the stretch of the 2022 season when Frank Reich was fired, but Jeff Saturday took over as the interim coach.
Frazier will turn 65 in April.
The Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley on December 15th after a 5-9 start to the season.
Former Vikings Coach Fired
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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