Minnesota Vikings: Leslie Frazier's Interim Position Is His First HC Job

The Minnesota Vikings second-ever interim head coach, Leslie Frazier, is taking on the role of NFL head coach for the first time in his coaching career. 

Hiring an interim coach with no head coaching experience is common in the NFL.  Over 76 percent of the interim head coaches hired since 1950, never had previous NFL head coaching experience. 

Two famous coaches that received their first head coaching stints as interim coaches were Marty Schottenheimer with the Browns in 1984, and Jeff Fisher with the Oilers in 1994.

The following slideshow goes over some of the more notable head coaches in NFL history who started out as interim head coaches.

Jason Garrett (2010): Dallas Cowboys

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Dallas Cowboys interim head coach Jason Garrett watches the action during the game at Dallas Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Lions 35-19. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Jason Garrett is one of seven interim head coaches since 1950 to pick up a victory on the road in their interim debut. 

The Cowboys victory by 13 points was also the greatest margin of victory by a debuting interim head coach on the road (from a period of 1950-).

The previous best margin of victory on the road by a debuting interim head coach was Wayne Fontes in 1988, when the Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 19-9.

Mike Singletary (2008): San Francisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers shouts on the sidelines during their game against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Imag

Everybody was excited when Hall of Fame LB Mike Singletary took over for Mike Nolan in 2008 as the San Francisco 49ers head coach.  The excitement has subsided. 

Maybe as a sign of things to come, Singletary lost to the Seattle Seahawks 34-13 in his debut.

Tom Cable (2008): Oakland Raiders

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Tom Cable of the Oakland Raiders walks the sidelines during their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

When Tom Cable was hired by the Oakland Raiders in 2008 to be the interim head coach, I don't think anybody thought he would last as long as he has with the Raiders.  Cable has survived a few controversies, and a couple of losing seasons.

Despite the big loss on Sunday, the Raiders are still in the playoff hunt under Cable's guidance. Cable lost his debut game to the New Orleans Saints 34-3.

Mike Tice (2000): Minnesota Vikings

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Mike Tice of the Minnesota Vikings watches the action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on October 17, 2004 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Minnesota defeated New Orleans 38-31. (Photo by Chr

Mike Tice was the first interim head coach in the history of the Minnesota Vikings.  Tice lost his debut on Monday Night Football to the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens 19-3. 

He was retained as Vikings head coach after the season, and he had an up-and-down coaching career with the Vikings.

Gary Moeller (2000): Detroit Lions

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23 Nov 2000: Head Coach Gary Moeller of the Detroit Lions looks on from the sidelines during the game against the New England Patriots at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Patriots 34-9.Mandatory Credit: Tom Pidgeon /A

Gary Moeller took over a Detroit Lions team in turmoil in 2000. 

Moeller who had previous head coaching experience at the University of Michigan, took over for Bobby Ross mid-season and kept the Lions in the playoff hunt until the final week of the regular season. 

Moeller won his debut against the Atlanta Falcons 13-10.

Dick LeBeau (2000): Cincinnati Bengals

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07 Oct 2001: Head Coach Dick LeBeau of the Cincinnati Bengals observes the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 16-7. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jason Cohn/Allsport

Dick LeBeau, a future Hall of Famer and a defensive coaching wizard, was hired as the interim head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2000.  LeBeau was the head coach of the Bengals two more years after his interim stint.

Later, he would go back to the Steelers, and lead the Pittsburgh defense to two Super Bowl titles as defensive coordinator. LeBeau lost to the Miami Dolphins 31-16 in his debut.

Jeff Fisher (1994): Houston Oilers

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22 OCT 1995: HOUSTON OILERS HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER ON THE FIELD PRIOR TO THE OILERS 35-32 LOSS TO THE CHICAGO BEARS AT SOLDIER FIELD IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT

Jeff Fisher was hired as an interim head coach by the Houston Oilers in 1994.  Fisher is now the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL.  Fisher lost to the New York Giants 13-10 in his debut.

Art Shell (1989): Los Angeles Raiders

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LOS ANGELES - 1989: Head Coach Art Shell of Los Angeles Raiders looks on during a game in the 1989 season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Raiders hired Art Shell to replace future Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike Shanahan in 1989. 

Shell was popular with Raider players, and he led the Raiders to three playoff appearances in later years.

Shell's hiring was historic at the time, because Shell was the first black head coach in the NFL since Fritz Pollard in 1925. Shell won his debut against the Jets 14-7.

Wayne Fontes (1988): Detroit Lions

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17 Dec 1994: Coach Wayne Fontes of the Detroit Lions watches his players during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The Lions won the game 41-19.

It's hard to believe, but Wayne Fontes is the most successful Detroit Lions head coach in the last 50 years. 

Fontes was consistently criticized, but he did lead the Lions to four playoff appearances, and to the NFC Championship Game in 1991. 

Fontes won his debut against the Green Bay Packers 19-9.  Fontes is also the last Lions head coach to win at Lambeau Field.

Wade Phillips (1985): New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 19: (R-L) Head coach Wade Phillips of the Dallas Cowboys shakes hands with head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints following their game at the Louisiana Superdome on December 19, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Cowboys

Wade Phillips took over for his dad Bum Phillips in 1985 as New Orleans Saints head coach. 

Phillips was replaced by an interim head coach himself this season, when Jason Garrett took over for him as Dallas Cowboys head coach. 

Phillips won his interim debut against the Los Angeles Rams 29-3.

Jerry Glanville (1985): Houston Oilers

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 8: Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville looks on from the sidelines during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 8, 1987 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 27-20. (Photo by George

Jerry Glanville had a colorful coaching career with the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons.

Known for dressing in all black, and leaving tickets for Elvis, Glanville is hard to forget.

Glanville lost to the Browns 28-21 in his interim debut with the Oilers.

Raymond Berry (1984): New England Patriots

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1985: Head coach Raymond Berry of the New England Patriots stands on the sideline during a 1985 NFL game. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

A year after the New England Patriots took the interim tag off of Raymond Berry's job title, he led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 1985. 

Berry won his interim debut 30-20 against the New York Jets.

Marty Schottenheimer (1984): Cleveland Browns

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LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Cleveland Browns looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 16, 1986 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 27-14. (Phot

Marty Schottenheimer took over for Sam Rutigliano midway in the 1984 season. 

Two years later, he would lead the Browns to the brink of the Super Bowl, losing in the famous 1986 "The Drive" AFC Championship Game. 

Schottenheimer lost his interim debut to the New Orleans Saints 16-14.

J.D. Roberts (1970): New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 23: A pedestrian walks past a giant Fleur-de-Lis outside the Louisiana Superdome as it prepares to reopen on September 23, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Superdome will reopen for the first NFL New Orleans Saints game agains

J.D. Roberts perhaps had the most famous interim head coaching debut.  Down 17-16 against the Detroit Lions, Roberts sent out Tom Dempsey to attempt a game winning 63-yard field goal. 

As everybody knows, Dempsey made the kick to set the record for longest NFL field goal, and the Saints won in dramatic fashion. 

Wally Lemm (1961): Houston Oilers

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LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 11: Hall of Famer and former Raiders quarterback, George Blanda, attends a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 1990 in Los Angeles, California. The Pa

As an interim head coach, Wally Lemm led the Houston Oilers with the help of QB George Blanda (pictured above) to the AFL title in 1961, and won AFL coach of the year. 

Undoubtedly, Lemm had the most successful season by an interim head coach in pro football history.