The Miami Dolphins have reportedly requested to interview Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, bringing their total to six, as of Wednesday evening.
Frazier also serves as assistant head coach with Buffalo, where he has been since 2017. He was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011 to 2013, compiling a record of 21-33-1, including playoffs. He was interim head coach for Minnesota to finish the 2010 season.
News of the Dolphins’ interest was first reported by MMQB on Wednesday night, and then by ESPN and NFL Network.
Frazier, 62, has also been coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15), Vikings (2007-10) and Cincinnati Bengals (2003-04). He was defensive backs coach and assistant head coach to Tony Dungy on the 2006 Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts.
As a player, he also won a Super Bowl with the 1985 Bears. The defensive back had 20 interceptions in his five-year playing career from 1981-85.
Of the five others the Dolphins have requested to interview, there are three offensive coordinators and two defensive coordinators. The two defensive coaches also have previous head coaching experience.
Those names: Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Daboll and Joseph both have a season of coordinator experience with the Dolphins, Daboll running the offense in 2011, coach Tony Sparano’s last season in Miami, and Joseph running the defense in 2016, the first year under Adam Gase and last time the Dolphins made the playoffs.
Between Frazier and Joseph, the Dolphins would fulfill the requirement of interviewing at least two external minority candidates under the NFL’s Rooney Rule. Named after Dan Rooney, the former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the rule is designed to encourage diversity and inclusion in the hiring practice.
The Dolphins have an opening after firing coach Brian Flores on Monday morning, despite his completion of back-to-back winning seasons, the latest a 9-8 2021 campaign after starting the year 1-7. Flores went 24-25 in three seasons at the helm with the Dolphins, although that counts an 0-7 start in 2019, when he was working with a roster depleted of talent and ended up winning five of his last nine that year.
There are six other NFL head coaching vacancies this offseason, with the Dolphins joined by the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders.
This story will be updated.
Source: Berkshire mont
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