The Minnesota Vikings have fired their head coach Leslie Frazier. Frazier was fired on Monday, one year after he took the team to the playoffs, and just a day after they finished a 5-10-1 season.
“We have tremendous respect and appreciation for Leslie and what he has done for the Minnesota Vikings,” Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said in a statement. “He stepped in and established a strong positive culture here and he has been the consummate professional as our head coach and in this community. Making this change is difficult, but what we determined is best for the organization.”
The Vikings general manager Rick Spielman also commented on Frazier leaving the team. “Unfortunately, we did not achieve consistent success and did not achieve the progress we expected,” Spielman said. “We believe a coaching change is needed to help build a successful team moving forward.”
Frazier took the news of his impending firing well, and said that he is just thankful for the time he had with the team. “I’m just thankful for the support that I’ve received for my time here both as a coordinator and a head coach,” Frazier said. “Going to Mankato and being around the fans in a personable way, and then being at the Dome yesterday when Mall of America Field, the last game was ever played. The fans have been very, very good to me, and I’m thankful for my time here in Minnesota, it’s good.”
Image via Wikimedia Commons