Leslie Frazier, the Buffalo Bills’ assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, surprised everyone when he stated in February that he would be leaving for the 2023 NFL season.
Three months following his abrupt departure, Frazier spoke candidly about the inexplicable departure with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
“I feel good about it; I think my reasons for stepping away were the right ones,” 64-year-old Frazier stated.
Still, the timing seemed strange. Changes in coaching typically occur at the conclusion of the season, not more than a month later. And since Frazier joined the Bills in 2017, the defense has consistently been among the best in the league.
Even though Bills general manager Brandon Beane stated that Frazier only needed to “take a breath for a minute,” other analysts argued whether he was forced out. There were also reports that he was planning to retire, but his enrollment in the NFL’s Coach Accelerator program at the end of May suggested that he was determined to return to head coaching.
In the May 30 piece, Frazier stated, “It just gives me a chance to see things from a different perspective, get recharged again and reenergized.” “I’m going to monitor various teams during their organized team activities (OTAs), will most likely repeat this during training camp, and visit certain clubs as well. I’ll be sure to keep up with any new developments and trends in the league by taking a closer look at what’s going on in the fall.
Pro Football Network identified Frazier as a potential “second-chance coach,” drawing comparisons to successful coaches who led teams in their second chances, including Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, and Pete Carroll.
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