Cowboys interview Leslie Frazier for head coaching vacancy

The Cowboys have conducted their third head coaching interview since moving on from Mike McCarthy, with Seattle Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier completing his interview on Monday.

Frazier, 65, was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-2013. He took over as the interim for Brad Childress in 2010 and was retained for the following three seasons, where he posted a 21-33-1 record as head coach.

After his first full season as head coach in 2011 ended with a 3-13 record, Frazier led the Vikings to a 10-6 record the following year, the biggest single-season turnaround in franchise history and one that saw him finish fourth in the NFL Coach of the Year Award voting.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer hired as Frazier’s replacement in Minnesota in 2014 where he was the head coach for seven seasons.

A majority of Frazier’s career in the NFL has come as a defensive coordinator, holding that role for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Buffalo Bills. In 13 seasons as a defensive coordinator, Frazier coordinated defenses have been in top 10 in total defensive yards allowed seven times.

The 2021 Bills defense was especially strong under Frazier, leading in the league in total yards allowed and points allowed plus finishing third in takeaways. That season, Buffalo would come up just short to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round and finish the year 11-6.

In his playing days, Frazier was a cornerback who went undrafted out of Alcorn State in 1981 and would be signed by the Chicago Bears where he spent all five seasons of his NFL career. Frazier led the Bears in interceptions (six) in 1985 when Chicago won Super Bowl XX. Just over two decades later, he would go on to win Super Bowl XLI as assistant head coach with the Indianapolis Colts over the Bears.

Frazier now joins former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as the candidates that Dallas has officially interviewed thus far for the head coaching vacancy.