Two new additions to the chart: Defensive Line Coach Derrick LeBlanc, and Drew Terrell, whose official title is TBD (probably Passing Game Coordinator). pic.twitter.com/969HjxH3fz
— The Cardinal Rule (@jokomo13) February 24, 2023
As of February 24, 2023 the Arizona Cardinals have hired 12 new coaches that come to the desert from a wide array of backgrounds. Among these hires are of course new head coach Jonathan Gannon who was most recently the defensive coordinator for a Philadelphia Eagles squad that fell to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
Gannon’s first hire was his linebackers coach in Philly, Nick Rallis, who is joining the team as defensive coordinator. Not long after, Gannon brought in an old pal from his Minnesota days, Drew Petzing, as offensive coordinator. It was also announced that Jeff Rodgers would remain on the staff as special teams coordinator after serving in that role since 2018.
Since, news has slowly trickled in about a variety of position coach hirings.
- OL Klayton Adams
- TE Ben Steele
- QB Israel Woolfork
- OLB Robert Rodriguez
- LB Sam Siefkes
- CB Ryan Smith
- S Patrick Toney
- DL Derrick LeBlanc
The team here at AZSPORTS Underground has been following the hires and has some quick reactions to the moves the Cardinals have made so far.
Joe Comeau
There’s an idea in leadership circles that is sometimes referred to by the idiom “get the right people on the bus.” This concept made its way into the leadership lexicon thanks to its inclusion in Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t.
The general idea is to get the best and brightest people on board, and then figure out the details later. Or, in Collins’ words, “first who, then what.”
While I’m not suggesting that Jonathan Gannon is haphazardly assembling his coaching staff – quite the opposite – it does feel like he is starting by assembling what he considers to be the best and brightest ascending minds in the coaching pipeline, putting them in key roles, and making experience or pedigree to take a secondary – if not tertiary – concern.
When it’s all said and done, I do think the org chart will contain a few veteran coaches, but there is clearly an emphasis on getting the prodigies onto the bus first.
Albert Delgado Jr
Like a famous quote from the legendary Bruce Lee, “everyone wants to learn how to win. But no one wants to learn”.
When the Arizona Cardinals hired Jonathan Gannon, there were a couple of mixed reactions to the hire. Michael Bidwill and Monti Ossenfort did the right thing by not listening to the outsiders and rather waiting to get their top guy. Even Michael Bidwill said, “ every bit of advice has been take your time, and we have”.
While this is a very young staff, I do expect a lot of great things from this coaching staff. Don’t be surprised if this Cardinals team in two years becomes the next 2022 Eagles.
Jackie Samaniego
Adaptable, violent, explosive, and smart. Those are the words Jonathan Gannon used to describe the Cardinals identity with him as head coach. You can’t help but buy into what Gannon is selling. He’s got the energy and moxie that the Cardinals have been craving whether they knew it or not. He also emphasized adaptability, something you’ll need as the game continues to evolve. It will be a major contrast from the Kingsbury era, which felt predictable, soft, and dysfunctional.
When it comes to assembling a coaching staff, Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon are cooking! There were major concerns that the Cardinals procrastinated too long in hiring a head coach and would be left to pick from the scraps for the staff. Given his time in the league, Gannon has an eye for up-and-coming talent on the coaching side of the ball.
The Cardinals hired 29-year-old Nick Rallis as their defensive coordinator. He is considered to be a defensive prodigy and a hot commodity in the coordinator candidate pool. On the offensive side, they hired Drew Petzing. Petzing has been in several offensive coaching group positions. His understanding of each group and his eagerness to work with Kyler Murray is huge. Overall, it seems like everyone who is on board is ready to learn, adapt, and grow the culture. There will be no trying to fit square pegs in round poles.
Marcos Labrada
Something different is all I hoped for this year and at the very least we got that. My major focus all season was making it a point that no matter the circumstance, there was no way Keim could carry over for another year, this season was it. I was indifferent about the possibility of Kliff Kingsbury being fired, it didn’t matter if the man hiring his replacement was Keim.
We have Monti Ossenfort now and for the near future, and its a wait-and-see game for me. Given Monti’s background, he does come from staffs that build strong foundations, I believe that hiring the right type of staff is a part of that. This will be his first go at a draft, and although I don’t disagree with all the draft picks Keim has made, he made a lot of moves that put this organization in a bind and it will be a tall task for Monti. I’m hoping for the best as far as the way he addresses it.
I’ve been excited about Coach Gannon since the possibility of his hiring. I do like what he did with the Eagles defensive unit this past year, but he also offers the right acumen and comes off as a straightforward, no-nonsense person. His press conferences are good and he’s not afraid to be direct whether serious or in a joking manner.
Yes, the staff and himself are young, but experience is not synonymous with knowledge. Both offensive coordinator and defensive coordinators are set, and there is no more “coach of the offense and coach of the defense”. That was the issue that plagued the Cardinals, but now there is a set staff with roles and a head coach that’s sitting at the top. I can’t wait till more information comes as the season goes into the free agency, draft, pre-season, and then the regular season.
Let’s go Cardinals!!!
