Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has reportedly made his first hire. Sources have confirmed that Macdonald will former head coach and longtime NFL defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
The 64-year-old Frazier will be given the title of assistant head coach. Frazier was out of football last year after a star-studded career as a defensive coordinator for four different teams and head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-2013. The bond between Macdonald and Frazier began in 2016 when Frazier was the Raven’s secondary coach and Macdonald was a defensive assistant.
A LASTING BOND
The lasting connection between Macdonald and Frazier will take some pressure off Macdonald when creating the team culture on and off the field. Having someone who knows him thinks like he does and has been at the top of the profession will help McDonald. One trait that was evident with Macdonald during Wednesday’s press conference was how important the right people were to a winning culture.
“There are going to be no secrets, secret things of scheme, or secret plays that are going to get us there faster. It’s going to take a lot of hard work by finding the right people and doing it the right way.”
WHO WILL DEFENSIVE PLAYS
Macdonald was asked if he will call the defensive plays and before the hiring of Frazier he indicated he would call the plays.
“Yeah, right now the plan is I’ll be calling the plays. Now, depending on who the defensive coordinator is and when that becomes — ultimately, I’m the head coach of the football team, so I want to coach the football team. Right now, the best way that we can win in my opinion is for me to call the plays, and then when it becomes obvious that someone else is ready to go and we see it the same way, then we’ll make that change. “
The hiring of Frazier could change all that.
LESLIE FRAZIER FILE
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
1999 Defensive backs coach Philadelphia Eagles under first-year HC Andy Reid. Eagles’ defense improved four years Frazier was there
CINCINNATI BENGALS
2003 Defensive Coordinator Cincinnati Bengals under HC Marvin Lewis. Defensive under Frazier increased from 28th in the league to 19 in 2004. Increased takeaways from 24 in 2003 to 36 in 244.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
2005 Defensive assistant for Indianapolis Colts under Tony Dungy. Was brought in to improve Colt’s young but talented defensive backfield. Passing defense improved from 15th in 2005 to second in 2006. On February 4, 2007, the Colts beat Frazier’s former team the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Was hired as defensive coordinator under HC Brad Childress who was fired after the team went 3-7. Frazier finished the 2010 season as interim coach. Frazier was named head coach in 2011 and was fired in 2013.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Was hired as defensive coordinator on January 3rd 2014. His contract was not renewed in 2016.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Was hired as Ravens secondary on January 15th, 2016
BUFFALO BILLS
Bills hired Frazier as defensive coordinator under Sean McDermott on January 12th, 2017. Was promoted to assistant head coach on March 4th, 2020. On February 28th, 2023 Bills announced Frazier would not return after the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
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