Dallas Cowboys coaching search: Leslie Frazier completes in-person interview with team

The Dallas Cowboys have entered Leslie Frazier for their open head coach position, the team reported Monday. Frazier is currently the assistant head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and was previously the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-13.

The interview occurred in person in Frisco on Monday. Frazier is the third candidate to be interviewed for the job, joining former Jets coach Robert Saleh and current Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Frazier brings more than 25 years of experience coaching in the NFL as he began as a defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999. He also served as a defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals (2003-04), Minnesota Vikings (2007-10), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15) and Buffalo Bills (2017-22).

In his head coaching tenure with the Vikings, Frazier totaled a 21-32-1 record. That includes a playoff berth in 2012, which ended with a Wild Card loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The 2021 season with the Bills was one of Frazier’s best as a defensive coordinator. Buffalo led the NFL in both points and yards allowed that year and fell against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

In his playing days, Frazier was a cornerback who went undrafted out of Alcorn State in 1981. He later signed with the Chicago Bears where he spent all five seasons of his NFL career.

Frazier led the Bears in interceptions (six) in 1985 when Chicago won Super Bowl XX. Just over two decades later, he would go on to win Super Bowl XLI as assistant head coach with the Indianapolis Colts over the Bears.

It’s also worth noting that the Cowboys have now met the Rooney Rule requirement for interviewing minority candidates with their interview of Frazier, who is Black. That means they can now officially make a hire at any moment.

The Cowboys are looking to replace Mike McCarthy after the two sides parted ways. He had a 49-35 record with the Cowboys since taking over in 2019, including three straight 12-win seasons from 2020-22. This year was a rough go, however, as Dallas finished 7-10. Two days after the Cowboys announced the decision to part ways, he interviewed with the Chicago Bears for their vacancy.

Another potential name in Dallas’ search is franchise icon Deion Sanders. Now the head coach at Colorado, he spoke with owner Jerry Jones about the position but has not been formally interviewed.