Dolphins request to interview another Bills assistant. Flores targeted for Texans’ opening
The Dolphins are eyeing another Buffalo Bills assistant for their head coaching vacancy.
According to multiple reports, the team has requested permission to interview Bills defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Leslie Frazier.
According to Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football, the Dolphins will interview Frazier next week. The Dolphins had previously requested to speak to Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Schrager reported the team will interview him Sunday. According to NFL Network, the Chicago Bears are also seeking to interview Frazier.
The Bills host the New England Patriots in the wild-card round of the playoffs Saturday night.
Frazier, 62, is in his fifth season as the Bills defensive coordinator. He also served as interim coach for the Minnesota Vikings during the 2010 season and then held the permanent title from 2011 to 2013.
Frazier’s three full seasons in Minnesota included an 18-29-1 record, two fourth-place finishes in the NFC North and one playoff appearance in the 2012 season, in which the Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.
A former NFL defensive back, Frazier was part of the 1985 Bears team that won Super Bowl 20. His playing career was cut short by a knee injury he sustained in the game. Frazier has over two decades of experience coaching the defensive side in the NFL, with stints in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Baltimore. Buffalo’s defense allowed the fewest points and yards this season.
Frazier is the sixth name to surface for the Dolphins’ opening, joining Daboll, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Brian Flores, whom the Dolphins fired on Monday, is being targeted by the Houston Texans for their opening after firing David Culley on Thursday, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. Flores is also scheduled to interview for the Bears’ opening Friday, according to Schrager.
Flores, who complied a 24-25 record in three seasons in Miami, has ties to Houston general manager Nick Caserio, with both spending time in coaching and player personnel in New England. According to ESPN, Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, who played in New England for eight seasons, is also expected to emerge as a leading candidate for the Texans’ opening.
Flores landing with Houston would just add another layer to the Dolphins’ months-long interest in embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson, who did not play this season amid his disgruntlement with ownership, as well as close two dozen civil suits alleging sexual misconduct. According to multiple reports, the Texans’ firing of David Culley is not expected to change his desire for a trade.
The Dolphins pursued a trade for Watson early in the 2021 season but concern over Watson’s legal situation reportedly prevented a deal from materializing. According to NFL Network, part of Watson’s desire to be traded to Miami was playing for Flores.
Owner Stephen Ross did not answer a question Monday regarding whether he spoke to Watson before the trade deadline and said any decision on the quarterback decision would go to the team’s next coach.
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 9:23 PM.
