Former NFL executive suggests Sean McDermott-Leslie Frazier rift
It has been suggested that differences between Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier led to the defensive coordinator’s departure from the Buffalo Bills earlier this offseason.
Frazier had been Buffalo’s defensive coordinator since McDermott was hired as head coach in 2017. In a surprise, after the 2022 season Frazier and the Bills had a split.
It was said that Frazier wanted to take the 2023 season off from coaching and it was noted that he could return in 2024. It was never suggested by the Bills that he’d be back in Buffalo at that time–And regardless, something seemed off about Frazier just leaving.
According to Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager now with The Daily Coach, there were disagreements between McDermott and Frazier leading to the defensive coordinator’s departure from Buffalo. Specifically, McDermott wanted to call plays and Frazier did not want to give up that game-day responsibility… so he left.
Lombardi made the claim via the Pat McAfee Show clip below:
"Let's go back to Leslie Frazier's departure from Buffalo..
Sean McDermott took over the play calling with 13 seconds left in Kansas City that resulted in a field goal..
This year McDermott wanted to call the defense and Frazier decided to leave"@mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/fVIpCGyAwl
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 16, 2023
Furthering the curiosity surrounding Frazier was his recent visits to three other NFL teams. That did not match up with the idea the Bills first put out there, that he wanted to take a year off.
Frazier still could do that, but he had enough interest in a return to coaching to at least speak with other teams.
Regardless, Buffalo now moves forward with a new defensive play caller: McDermott, who now is the Bills’ head coach and DC.
