Vikings have fired Leslie Frazier
Dec 29, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier looks on during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Lions 14-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings are now one of three teams without a head coach after they’ve fired Leslie Frazier today:
The #Vikings have fired coach Leslie Frazier.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2013
Vikings announce they are letting go of coach Leslie Frazier, as expected. Reported weeks ago they had reached out to Bill O'Brien
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 30, 2013
According to Fox Sports, Frazier waited by the entrance to the Vikings’ locker room at the Metrodome, waiting to say thank you to each player as they entered following Sunday’s 14-13 season-ending win.
"“I just told them how proud I am of the way they battled, special group of guys,” Frazier said of his message to the team Sunday. “There’s a lot of times they could have thrown in the towel, but they didn’t. They kept battling and today is great evidence of that.”"
Frazier, who has a 21-32-1 record in three-plus seasons as Minnesota’s coach, will now likely land somewhere as a defensive coordinator if he coaches in 2014.
That’s the role he had with the Cincinnati Bengals in the first two seasons of Marvin Lewis’ tenure. Lewis has admitted he pulled the trigger too quickly when he fired Leslie after just two years, and the two have appeared to be at peace with each other.
Perhaps if the Bengals lose Mike Zimmer to a head-coaching job, Frazier would be an adequate replacement.
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