For the last six seasons, former Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has spent his time helping the Buffalo Bills transform their defense into one of the best units in the entire NFL.
Earlier this year, however, Frazier decided to step away from his role as the Bills defensive coordinator. At the time of his departure, it was reported that the former Vikings head coach was planning to return to the NFL sidelines in 2024.
During a recent conversation with Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Frazier confirmed that his plan is to return to coaching for the 2024 season. However, Frazier is hoping to land a role that is much more important than a defensive coordinator.
Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier wants to be in charge of an NFL team again
When speaking to Breer recently, Frazier shared what he hopes will happen in 2024 when teams around the league are looking to fill their head coach vacancies.
"Hopefully, an owner will give me a chance to talk to him about an opportunity. If that doesn’t happen, I’m good. I’ve had a good career. I’m good. My goal is to be a head coach. I know I don’t have much time left, I’m at an age where it seems like owners are going younger and younger, but I think I have some things I can bring to the table. We’ll see what happens."
The former Minnesota head coach is very aware that his age (currently 64-years-old) could be something that plays a significant role in him never landing a top job in the NFL again.
He's not wrong though, as head coaches that have been hired by NFL teams since 2022 have had an average age of 47-years-old at the time of their hiring.
One thing that might give Frazier some optimism is the fact that six of the 13 head coaches hired around the league since 2022 were also the head coach of another NFL team earlier in their coaching career. This could show that some teams might be more willing to hire an older candidate if that candidate has previous experience as an NFL head coach.
After he was named Minnesota's interim head coach in the middle of the 2010 season, Frazier became the Vikings' full-time head coach in 2011, and he remained in the role until the end of the 2013 campaign.
During his three-plus seasons as Minnesota's head coach, he led the franchise to one playoff appearance, and his teams had a combined record of 21-32-1.