5 candidates to be the next Indianapolis Colts head coach
3. Leslie Frazier, Bills Defensive Coordinator
Frazier just completed his first season as Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator, leading a unit that was mostly middle of the road in terms of points and yardage with the exception of finishing 29th against the run (124.6 yards per game). But Buffalo’s defense was opportunistic, with 18 interceptions (tied for sixth in the league) and 25 takeaways (tied for ninth in the league).
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network immediately mentioned Frazier as a candidate for the Colts’ head coaching job, due to his two seasons as an assistant coach in Indianapolis (2005 and 2006) and relationship with owner Jim Irsay. He would also have an advocate in former Colts head coach Tony Dungy, which may count very big in Irsay’s mind.
One name that may come up with the #Colts, as they try to return to normalcy: #Bills DC Leslie Frazier. Won a ring with the #Colts, close with Jim Irsay, would restore order... and has experience doing it.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2018
Frazier has been a head coach before, with a 21-32-1 record and one playoff appearance over three-plus seasons (2010-2013) with the Minnesota Vikings. All that stint really proved is that he is best suited to be a defensive coordinator or secondary coach, without the most important personality aspects it takes to motivate players as a head coach.
But Frazier would be the kind of coach to bring some calm to any post-McDaniels storm in Indianapolis. He may only be a one- or two-year bridge to another coach, but Frazier looks like an easy fit for the Colts if that’s the direction they want to go.