Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was pleased to introduce former Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Alan Williams as his new defensive coordinator last week, but Williams might not have been Frazier's first choice.
The Washington Post is reporting that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris turned down an offer to become Minnesota's defensive coordinator after verbally agreeing to join the Washington Redskins. Morris interviewed with the Vikings but accepted a job in Washington as defensive backs coach.
In an interview with the Post's Mike Jones, Morris said he didn't want to go back on his verbal agreement with the Redskins a day after agreeing to work for them.
"Right away, once I came here, and I came here pretty quickly and got a chance to sit down with these guys, I got a great feel about coming here," Morris told the Post. "But I got an opportunity to interview with Minnesota, and I did, and we waited a little bit, but I didn't want to miss a great opportunity to come to Washington. So I had to give these guys an answer in Washington, and I gave them the answer, and I felt confident in my decision."
Morris left Minnesota without an offer, and the Vikings interviewed Jacksonville Jaguars' interim head coach Mel Tucker later in the week. Tucker was reportedly offered the job but chose to remain in Jacksonville assuming his old position as defensive coordinator for new coach Mike Mularkey.
The Post reports Tucker turned down Minnesota's offer on Jan. 11, the same day Morris agreed to join the Redskins. The Vikings' offer to Morris reportedly came in on Jan. 12.
"A lot of people might think it's a missed opportunity not going to Minnesota after they offered, but I believe that in this game, all you have is your word and your tape, and I gave these guys my word, and I wanted to come here and help them this year, and I was going to do it," Morris said.
While introducing Williams last week as defensive coordinator, Frazier said he had talked with other candidates, including Tucker, but wouldn't confirm if he had offered the job to anyone.
"I talked with Mel and a few other candidates about working here and what it would take to work here," Frazier said. "At the end of the day, he felt like, for him, the best situation for him was to remain in Jacksonville and not move his family.
"I did get to the point where I didn't want to do anything with any of the candidates until they made a decision about what was best for them. It was important that I went through this process to just try to determine what was the best fit for us. I think things really worked out the way they should. Alan is going to be a great fit for what we're trying to get done."
Williams replaces the demoted Fred Pagac, who agreed to stay on as linebackers coach, a position he held from 2006-10. Pagac was promoted to defensive coordinator after Frazier was named head coach.
