Buccaneers Hire Leslie Frazier as Defensive Coordinator

TAMPA, Fla. (WCBI/SI) — About a week after he was fired as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Leslie Frazier has been hired as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ new defensive coordinator.

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Buccaneers officially announced the move Monday night.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Leslie Frazier and I consider myself very fortunate to have him on my staff,” new Bucs head coach Lovie Smith said in a statement.

“Leslie is one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL and he has a long track record of helping players reach their full potential. He transformed Minnesota’s defense into one of the league’s elite units during his time there and I look forward to working with him to do the same here in Tampa Bay.”

Frazier joins a new staff in Tampa Bay, which fired head coach Greg Schiano after the regular season. Smith has taken over as head coach, and he named former University of California head coach Jeff Tedford as his offensive coordinator.

The Vikings only won 40 percent of their games under Frazier’s watch, but Frazier’s defense mostly flourished. During his time with the Vikings, including as its defensive coordinator, Frazier’s defenses allowed the second-lowest total rushing yards per game over a seven-year span.