Leslie Frazier is taking a year off from coaching. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

GM Brandon Beane explains how Leslie Frazier's sabbatical affects Bills

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/28/23

To the surprise of many, the Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday morning that defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier would be taking the 2023 season off from coaching.

While all parties maintained this is just a one-year leave of absence, Bills general manager Brandon Beane explained to reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis how Frazier’s decision affects things for the team this year and beyond.

“Ultimately, he doesn’t want to retire, he’s not there in his mind, but he just wanted to take a step back,” Beane said. “The way we left it, he’s going to take 2023 off, but he has full plans to return to coaching in 2024.”

From NFL Now: #Bills respected DC Leslie Frazier is stepping away and it’s not clear that he’ll be back in Buffalo in 2024. “Just taking a break,” he texted me. pic.twitter.com/XeLsj08uJR
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2023

One option Beane mentioned Tuesday is having head coach Sean McDermott call the defensive plays, citing his success in shutting down great quarterbacks “in his day.”

Prior to being hired as the Bills head coach, McDermott spent eight seasons as a defensive coordinator including six with the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2016 and two with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and 2010.

“I think what we’re going to take this year off and let that be and just cross that in 2024," Beane said. “…Still working through what we would do (if Frazier retired)…not sure. The good thing for us is, you know Sean’s background, he’s been a longtime defensive coordinator. Right now, he’ll just kind of lead that and not saying that we would or wouldn’t this offseason. It’s still very early in the offseason.”

While Beane admitted he wasn’t opposed to an outside hire to fill the defensive coordinator role this season, he made it clear his preference was to fill the position from within. Frazier will likely return next season, but there’s no guarantee he will come back to Buffalo.

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