After being fired by the Vikings, Leslie Frazier will head to Tampa Bay and join Lovie Smith's staff as the Buccaneers' defensive coordinator, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.
Buccaneers hire Leslie Frazier as defensive coordinator, per report
Leslie Frazier will join Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay.
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The move was rumored even before Smith was hired by the Bucs. Frazier confirmed the reports, telling Anderson he was headed to Tampa Bay to be the defensive coordinator. Frazier spent three full seasons as the head coach in Minnesota before being fired. He served as Minnesota's defensive coordinator for four seasons before that and ran the Bengals defense for two seasons.
Frazier will bring significant experience to Tampa Bay but limited success, at least statistically. In nine years as either a defensive coordinator or head coach, Frazier’s defense has finished top 10 in scoring just once. Minnesota finished 32nd in scoring defense last season and 31st in yards allowed.
Smith and Frazier have never coached together, although they did coach against each other several times while Frazier was in Minnesota and Smith was with the Bears. Smith has now added both coordinators with Jeff Tedford set to run the offense.
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