When Josh McDaniels reneged on his new job as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport speculated that there was a possibility of Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier entering the scene as a replacement. On Friday morning, Rapoport added a kernel of substance to his rumination, reporting that the Colts have formally requested to interview Frazier for the position.
If Frazier were to accept the interview and ultimately earn the position, it would be his second stint as a head coach, after a four-year term with the Minnesota Vikings from 2010 to 2013. While the Bills can’t deny Frazier an interview for this potential promotion, Frazier is always at liberty to pass on the opportunity, if he’d prefer to handpick his staff instead of settling for the coordinators who already signed contracts assuming they’d be working with McDaniels.
Frazier worked for Colts owner Jim Irsay as an assistant under Tony Dungy, winning a Super Bowl and has Dungy’s blessing, which carries weight in the organization. He also meshes well with the Colts already-signed defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, says NFL Network commentator Bucky Brooks.
Frazier is one of three reported candidates for the opening; Philadelphia offensive coordinator Frank Reich and New Orleans assistant head coach Dan Campbell are the others.