Bills’ DC Leslie Frazier takes step back; will not coach in 2023

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has announced that he will not coach in 2023. He hopes to return to the NFL in 2024.

At this time, it is not clear, who will lead the team’s defense next season. The team did not indicate whether Frazier would return to the team following the 2023 season.

The Bills announced today that they hired Al Holcomb, who has previous defensive coordinator experience.

However, at the time of publication, he is expected to be their senior defensive assistant.

Holcomb was previously the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator in 2018. He also served as the Carolina Panthers interim defensive coordinator last season after Steve Wilks took over on an interim basis.

Frazier is reportedly taking a step back. But he’s not retiring, according to Bills GM Brandon Beane.

He has been with the Bills organization since 2017. He spent several seasons as their defensive coordinator.

Then, before the 2020 season, Frazier was named their assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

He has been an assistant coach or head coach in the NFL every season since 1999. Frazier, who will be 64 in April, began his coaching career in the league with the Philadelphia Eagles as their defensive backs coach from 1999 through 2002.

Since then, he has bounced around the league. He spent two seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004.

After that, he was named the Indianapolis Colts defensive assistant in 2005. He was then promoted to Colts assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2006.

He was hired as the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator prior to the 2007 season. He was then promoted to be their assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2008 through 2010.

During the 2010 season, he was named the Vikings interim head coach. He was named their permanent head coach before the 2011 season and held that position through 2013.

He then served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. He also spent one season as the Baltimore Ravens secondary coach in 2016.

After that, he has been with the Bills.