Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to take year off from coaching

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is stepping away from coaching for the 2023 season, the team announced Tuesday in a press release.

The Bills did not specify why Frazier stepped down, but said he plans to return to coaching in 2024.

Frazier, 63, is perhaps best known for his three seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He has been with the Bills since 2017, leading a defense that has become one of the most cohesive and productive units in the NFL.

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Buffalo’s success under Frazier has made him a popular candidate for head coach in recent years. According to a USA TODAY Sports report, he interviewed for four vacant head coaching positions in 2021 and 2022. He did not get an interview this year.

The Bills did not reveal in the press release who will serve as defensive coordinator in Frazier’s absence, but they did announce that they had hired Al Holcomb as a senior defensive assistant. Holcomb was promoted to defensive coordinator at Carolina last year following the appointment of Steve Wilks as interim head coach. He also worked as Wilks’ defensive coordinator in Arizona in 2018.

Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buffalo Bills’ Leslie Frazier to take year off from coaching in 2023