Leslie Frazier, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, has been appointed assistant head coach by the Seattle Seahawks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leslie Frazier announced his retirement from football prior to the 2023 season, and he has since made a comeback.

Frazier, who was the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator, is joining the Seattle Seahawks as an assistant head coach, according to an NFL Network Insider report on Friday.

With 25 years of NFL coaching experience under his belt, 64-year-old Frazier is an ideal addition to assist his longtime mentor Mike McDonald in making the transition to head coach for the first time.

From 2010 to 2013, Frazier led the Vikings as head coach. He started off as an interim coach in his first season, going 3–3, but the following season, he took on the position full-time. With one postseason trip and a 21-32-1 record, he concluded his time in Minnesota.

Prior to it, he had been the DC for the Vikings since 2007. This was his second term in that role following a 2003–2004 spell with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Frazier most recently served as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator for six seasons before taking a year off. He was also the Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator in 2014–2015.

His tenure with the Bills was by far his strongest, as the defense finished as the NFL’s second-highest scoring defense in his last season and led the team in both points and yards allowed in 2021.

 

 

 

When Frazier left in February 2023, it was unknown if he would ultimately join the Bills again. In February 2024, linebackers coach Bobby Babich was elevated to defensive coordinator by Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott, who took over as defensive play-caller from Frazier the previous season.

Frazier, meanwhile, is on his way to Macdonald, where the 36-year-old head coach will be in charge of the defense and Seahawks.

The connection between McDonald and the legendary coach dates back to his one and only season as the Baltimore Ravens’ secondary coach in 2016. Only two years after serving as a coaching intern, Macdonald assisted him there as a defensive assistant.

While Macdonald continued to advance in Baltimore, Frazier moved on to Buffalo and remained a mentor to his former defensive assistant.

They are now reuniting in Seattle in an effort to put the Seahawks back on top.