FEBRUARY 10: Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill confirmed that the team’s new head coach will not be unveiled until after the Super Bowl. He said, via team reporter Darren Urban, that he and the front office will “pause throughout the rest of the weekend” and resume the search on Monday.
“We’re excited about the great progress we have made,” Bidwill said. “Every bit of advice as been ‘take your time’ and we have. I’m sure there are some frustrations with some of our fans, but we want to make the right decision, not the fastest decision.”
With only two known candidates remaining, it comes as little surprise that Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds he expects Arizona’s search process to “accelerate” after the Super Bowl has completed (video link). Barring a surprising hire being announced this weekend, Arizona will join Indianapolis in not having their new bench boss in place until the offseason has begun league-wide.
FEBURARY 8: There haven’t been many updates on the Cardinals’ head coaching search…besides the organization learning that they missed out on one of their top finalists. We learned recently that Brian Flores had backed out of the heading coaching race and would join the Vikings as their new defensive coordinator. That left Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo as Arizona’s final two candidates.
[RELATED: 2023 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Since the Giants and the Bengals are out of the playoffs, the Cardinals could sign either of the coaches immediately. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the organization isn’t expected to make a hire until after the Super Bowl. Cardinals reporter Mike Jurecki says “word on the street” is that the organization will hold a press conference announcing their new head coach next Tuesday.
The Cardinals may simply be taking their sweet time by delaying their inevitable hire of Kafka or Anarumo. However, the fact that they’re delaying the hiring until after the Super Bowl at least opens the door to them considering candidates from the Eagles and Chiefs coaching staffs. As our Head Coaching Tracker shows, the Cardinals haven’t interviewed any coaches from these two teams.
With new general manager Monti Ossenfort now running the front office, any of Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, or Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could suddenly emerge as a serious candidate. However, unless the organization had some unreported meeting with any of these coaches, it seems unlikely that they’d complete an interview and a hiring with a new candidate in only a matter of days (assuming the Tuesday press conference is accurate).
While Arizona has yet to hire a head coach, they have made one addition to the coaching staff. According to Jurecki (on Twitter), the organization is expected to hire Brant Boyer. The 51-year-old coach has spent the past seven years as the Jets’ special teams coordinator, and he’d presumably be taking on the same role in Arizona. Jeff Rodgers has served as the Cardinals’ special teams coordinator since 2019.
Nobody wants to coach this dumpster fire.
Nobody wants to coach a Malcontent of a QB like Murray
Bruce Arians out of retirement???
I don’t think his health can handle it anymore. It’s probably best for him and his family that he just takes it easy from here on out.
There are only 32 of these jobs but geez…there is a definite pattern here…agree w Andy above ^
I wish someone would give Bieniemy a shot. It’s been excruciating watching him tumble through the interview cycles the last couple of years and get no offers
He (Bieniemy) declined an interview in 2019 with the Cards.
I wouldn’t be quick to leave the Chiefs. Gone to three of the last 4 super bowls I think. Had a chance at a ring every year. Unless I’m walking into a job where the future is clearly bright and I have a young franchise QB, why take the chance to last 2 years in a bad situation? Only to inevitably go back to being a coordinator but now with a lesser team than the Chiefs.
I personally think he is KCs HC in waiting. I feel if KC wins the SB, Reid might retire and just pass it on to Bienemy.
That could be true. I don’t see it happening for a couple more years though.
He’s also turned down at least a few interviews as well…
In my opinion, it seemed like either he was being too picky, and wanted to only be hired for specific jobs, which he didn’t get, and/or he was perfectly content staying in KC if there wasn’t an opportunity that he really liked..
That’s just me taking a guess, because at first he was a really hot name on the HC candidates list, then he took some interviews, declined some interviews over two seasons, and then there were whispers about him being a bad interview and GMs/Owners wondering whether or not he was ready to be a HC, because they weren’t sure exactly what role and responsibilities he had under Reid.
Finally, over the last two years of HC openings, recently it has been nothing but crickets. Bienemy’s name hasn’t even hardly been brought up except for the Ravens OC opening.
Honestly, if I were Bienemy, and if I truly wanted to eventually become a HC, then I would take the Ravens OC opening. There he can make a name for himself with one of the most dynamic QBs, an excellent young RB in Dobbins, and then plus an improving assortment of weapons led by one of the league’s top 5 TE’s in Mark Andrews, actually he is a top 3 TE statistically over the past few seasons, only trailong Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
If he doesn’t take the Baltimore job I’d be very surprised, as it seems that just might be his only avenue towards becoming a head coach at the NFL level. Right now, for whatever reason, whether it be his past, off the record incidents, whether he’s not a great interview, or whether no one knows what he’s truly capable of because he’s hidden behind Reid and doesn’t call plays, whatever the reason is he no longer seems like he’s even being considered for these openings. Maybe if he finds success in Baltimore that might change.
Either way, wish the man the best of luck. It really seems like he’s paid his dues, and it is his time for an opportunity..
Although, maybe they did and I just didn’t hear it, but I also do find it really weird and odd that you don’t hear the Chief’s players going out of their way to mention how good of a coach Bienemy is…I find that pretty suspect, especially since him not getting a HC job has been such a hot topic over the past few offseasons. Typically, when one of their coaches gets a bad rap, or is even out as a candidate for a job, you will hear his players come out and openly support and back him up…
Maybe I just missed it, idk, but I never really heard any of that from Bienemy’s players…
Wait what!? Why on earth would Baltimore be a better situation than he’s already in? You mention the QB and tight end? Um … pretty sure KC has the best at both positions. Not to mention that I think Pacheco isn’t much if at all, a step down from Dobbins
Apparently Bieniemy has a harsh/off-putting manner about him and that rubs a lot of players the wrong way. Ever hear a player say a good word about him? That might indicate something…
High Altitude apparently you read all the clippings about why he hasn’t got a job. Not one player has come out even after being released or traded. He has made some players a lot of $$$ and they know that. I have heard Patrick Mahomes thank him on several occasions. Please don’t fall into the Sports media “ speculation” on to why he hasn’t gotten a job. The same has been said of many standing on the sidelines currently by the same media. Only 1 difference and it is obvious.
Bidwell should be on the phone with Shane Steichen the second the Super Bowl is over
Murray would last 4 games a year in an RPO scheme,
They need a HC who can show the players how to win the old school “smack mouth” way. Conrad Dobler is the obvious choice.