On the coldest days, at least NFL coaching change rumors are coming in hot.
The latest comes from Bruce Arians, whose time with the Arizona Cardinals looks to be coming to an end. Hub Arkush of Pro Football Weekly reports via multiple sources that Arians and the Cardinals “will agree to part ways” after the season. Arkush reports that between Arians’ health issues, a lack of answers at quarterback, and a potential rebuild on deck has led the two-time NFL Coach of the Year to walk away from the game.
…. However, Arians has seemingly refuted that report in a text message to Jarrett Bell of USA Today. “Never heard of the (reporter),” Arians relayed to Bell. “Nothing decided.”
On Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Cardinals “are more confident than ever” that Arians would return. Rapoport adds Arizona is holding out hope that Arians, quarterback Carson Palmer, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald all return for another run in 2018. However, he notes the Cardinals’ front office has already lined up some potential candidates and top targets – including former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles (currently the Jets head coach) and Bill O’Brien (who serves as the Houston Texans’ head coach) – in case Arians walks away.
If Arians, 65, wants to keep coaching (but not with the Cardinals) he’ll be atop the wish list of many teams looking to make a change. Odds are he’ll have plenty of openings to choose from if he wants to continue his coaching career. According to a Christmas Eve report from FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, as many as 13 or 14 head coach openings could pop up this offseason. That’s nearly half the league. The Bears are expected to be among them.
The Bears famously passed on hiring Arians in favor of Marc Trestman in 2013, and the team could certainly do worse than a coach who is 48-30-1 since taking over the Cardinals in 2013. If you tack on the 9-3 record he earned while serving as the Indianapolis Colts interim head coach, Arians’ teams have made three playoff appearances, posted three seasons with at least 10 wins, and finished in the top-10 in scoring offense twice.