Bills Von Miller on Leslie Frazier Departure: 'I Didn't See It Coming'

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier announced on Feb. 28 that he would be leaving the Bills for the 2023 season, but hoped to return in 2024.

One of the bigger storylines of the NFL offseason - with all due respect to the retirement of Tom Brady - is the sudden departure of Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier from the team.

It's being called a "temporary leave," and Frazier says he'll be back for the 2024 season, but it was a shock to many in the media and on the Buffalo roster.

“I didn’t see it coming,” edge rusher Von Miller said last week, via ESPN. “He had a great year with us last year, and he had several great years the whole time he’s been there. So, I didn’t see it coming, especially the timing of it.

“Usually, you know, coaches take, they [usually] come to a decision like right after the season when there’s jobs available. But coach Frazier, he’s vested in this league. He’s a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach.”

So far, the Bills have been non-committal regarding who will take over the duties of Frazier as defensive coordinator, but one obvious choice would be head coach Sean McDermott, who has previously served in that capacity with both the Eagles and Panthers.

Miller said that McDermott told him, “We’re fine” when it comes to replacing Frazier.

“If anybody can do it, it’s coach McDermott. It’s been done before,” Miller said. “So, it’s just, we’ll be good. You know me, I’m the most optimistic.”

Frazier was hired as defensive coordinator by the Bills in January of 2017, reuniting with McDermott, whom Frazier worked alongside as assistant coach for the Eagles from 1999-2002.

In that first season with the Bills, the team made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, ending what was the longest playoff drought in the four major North American sports leagues.

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