By Sam Stern
TEMPE – Just 10 months after inking a lengthy contract extension, the Kliff Kingsbury era in the Valley has officially come to an end.
The elements of a worthwhile story require conflict, plot and resolution. After a multitude of events that defined an irksome and discombobulated season – which the Arizona Cardinals (4-13) fittingly wrapped up with a 38-13 loss Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers – the first dominos in what is widely expected to be an intriguing offseason have finally fallen.
The Cardinals announced Monday that the franchise parted ways with Kingsbury. In addition, general manager Steve Keim has “stepped away from his position in order to focus on his health.”
Sources: The Arizona Cardinals fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who 10 months ago signed a contract extension through the 2027 season.
The Cardinals still never have had a head coach – any head coach – last longer than six years while the team has existed for over 100 years. pic.twitter.com/kYWb1AfjIG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 9, 2023
And Cardinals’ GM Steve Keim also has now stepped away, so a major reshuffle in Arizona. https://t.co/xatvV7TksI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 9, 2023
Coming off an 11-6 record in 2021, not to mention an imposing 8-1 away mark, the current organizational brass finds itself in a transitional period as the search begins for the next leader(s) of the franchise.
Cardinals chairman and president Michael Bidwill will lead the charge when it comes to searching for the right voice, and one message has become clearer as the season came to a close: the franchise’s current organizational strategy has run its course.
“When you look at the totality of the season, there were a lot of things, whether it was suspension, injuries, or some of the other things that occur. I think the number one thing is we need to really make sure that we’re getting the most out of those players,” said Bidwill, who has been with the organization since 1996. “I’ve been speaking to some of our leaders, and we want to make sure that we got the culture of our organization really focused on maximum effort and making sure we do everything we can do to win the AFC West.”
Reporting for @sportscronkite on the #kliffkingsbury news and everything surrounding the @AZCardinals
Quotes from Owner Michael Bidwill to come. #ArizonaCardinals pic.twitter.com/tNgsXjOriN
— Sam Stern (@SamSternSports) January 9, 2023
Winning the AFC West next season will be no easy task. The team also must figure out how to transition into a new GM-coaching era with a young quarterback who is coming off a devastating season-ending injury.
Kyler Murray was moved to the injured reserve after tearing his ACL against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12, but that isn’t stopping Bidwill from including the former Oklahoma Sooner in their upcoming conversations with potential candidates for both vacancies.
“Right now he’s obviously recovering from surgery and will be rehabbing in the offseason, but I think the big thing is he remains a dual threat, (an) incredibly explosive player, and he’s going to recover from this injury, and we’re gonna have a great player come back next year,” Bidwill said about the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. “I feel like we can have a quick turnaround, and we’ve got to get the right head coach, and the right general manager in here.”
Now that a multitude of NFL teams have started the search for a new head coach, speculation over available candidates is heating up.
A few names that stand out among the upcoming pool of candidates include Sean Payton of the Saints, DeMeco Ryans of the San Francisco 49ers and Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines. Bidwell told reporters Monday that he has interviewed two candidates currently employed by the organization – Quentin Harris and Adrian Wilson – and an unnamed third candidate.
The elaborate process of restoring a winning brand of football is underway. And yes, time is of the essence with an increased level of urgency within the franchise.
“I look forward to our next head coach having a lot of success with us for a long, long time, bringing in winning teams this community can all be proud of,” Bidwill said.