The 32 team NFL has five African-American head coaches. Two of them, Tony Dungy of Indianapolis and Mike Tomlin of Pittsburgh, came through here as defensive coordinators for the Minnesota Vikings. Here’s a prediction that the present defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier, will one day add his name to the list.
Dungy was in town last weekend when his Colts beat the Vikings 18-15. Dungy was Vikings head coach Denny Green’s defensive coordinator from 1992-1995. Then he moved on to Tampa Bay as head coach of the Bucs. In 2007 he became the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl.
Low key but effective, Dungy is a contrast to Tomlin, a more emotional leader who was the Vikings’ defensive coordinator for one year, 2006, before becoming head coach of the Steelers at 34 years old. The book on the Steelers’ decision makers is that they don’t hire bad head coaches. Tomlin is only the team’s third head coach since 1969. He coached the Steelers to a division title and the playoffs after finishing with a regular season record of 10-6.
Last season was Frazier’s first as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, coming here from Indianapolis where he had worked for Dungy (Tomlin was an assistant under Dungy in Tampa Bay). Last season Frazier’s defense was No. 1 in the NFL for allowing the fewest rushing yards per game, 74.1. The defense scored six touchdowns on interceptions (fifth most in league history) and two touchdowns on fumble recoveries. The Vikings gave up 17.5 points per game and tied for fifth in points allowed.
Vikings’ linebacker Ben Leber was asked if he considers Frazier one of the league’s best defensive coordinators. “You know, I think so,” he said. “…We’re not doing a great job right now helping him out…with the wins and losses but he’s putting together great schemes and I feel like we’re executing pretty well.”
Leber admires Frazier’s technical knowledge of defense, and also his leadership. “When we’re up, he stays the same,” Leber said. “When we’re down, he stays the same. That’s the mark of a good leader. You know you can’t be too emotional about the game. You just gotta keep going. …When things need to be said, he’ll say it. So I think he’s got all the leadership qualities of a good head coach.”
Former Viking Mike Morris, now a KFAN Radio talk show host, is also an admirer. “Part of it is his appeal to the players in the room,” he said. “…He’s got a great personality for that kind of thing. Players listen to him and respect him. He’s sharp. He thinks on his feet.”
Both Morris and Leber consider Frazier, 49, a potential head coach. Can Frazier be as good a head coach as Dungy and Tomlin? “Well, who knows?” Morris asked. “Dungy and Tomlin? Who knows? That’s pretty good company.”
Whether it’s eventually with the Vikings or another NFL team, Frazier looks like he’s in the NFL head coach candidates’ pool.