The Seattle Seahawks are hiring former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier as their assistant head coach, according to multiple reports.
Frazier, 64, will serve under new coach Mike Macdonald’s staff. Frazier, who was the Vikings’ head coach from 2011-13 and was also the team’s interim head coach for parts of the 2010 season, has an extensive defensive background, including his most recent stint as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator from 2017-2023.
The Bills announced after the 2022-23 season that Frazier would not return as their defensive coordinator. Frazier has also served as the defensive coordinator for the Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He hasn’t had another head coaching opportunity since his days in Minnesota, but he’s been interviewed by several teams for head coaching positions since 2018.
I just spoke directly to Leslie Frazier. He told me within the hour he’s decided to accept the offer from the #Seahawks to be their next assistant head coach. @TomPelissero reported the team first.
Leslie told me on the phone that today 4 teams stepped up efforts to pursue him… pic.twitter.com/WilFKyoY08
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 2, 2024
Macdonald, hired by Seattle on Wednesday, was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.
Frazier and Macdonald worked together in 2016, when Macdonald was the Ravens’ quality control coach and Frazier served as the secondary coach.
At 36 years old, Macdonald is the youngest head coach in the NFL, and Frazier’s experience around the league will certainly be valuable as he embarks on his first head coaching opportunity.
