The next head coach search is underway for the Arizona Cardinals. With the general manager position taken care of the Cardinals have been busy conducting and scheduling interviews with candidates. Who is fit enough to pull the Cardinals out of the trenches? Who can come in and turn the culture around? Who can gain the respect of Kyler Murray (who allegedly will have say in the decision)?
It’s tough to say but here are the pros and cons of the top candidates the team has been linked to.
Sean Payton
Pros: Payton’s resume is the most impressive of all the coaching candidates. He has the Super Bowl ring and plenty of winning seasons under his belt. With a history of winning comes respect amongst players and peers. It’s hard to imagine Murray blowing off constructive criticism from a coach like Payton. Speaking of Murray, Payton is already familiar with a QB of his stature, Drew Brees. Murray is far more athletic than Brees so the pair could be a match made in heaven. Payton had gushed about Murray prior to the Cardinals drafting him first overall. Murray could really benefit from an offensive mind like Payton.
Cons: While Payton’s salary won’t be coming out of the fan’s pockets or affect the cap, he wants a lot of money. Bidwill has been more on the conservative side when it comes to spending money and I’m not sure he’s willing to shell out the funds for Payton without cutting costs elsewhere. The Cardinals cannot afford the draft capital that it would take to land Payton here, there are too many holes on the roster. Payton has also yielded one Super Bowl, but has kept the Saints relevant during his entire tenure. He’s in a position now where he can re-retire at any time and return to a lucrative broadcasting career. Payton also has never had success when he didn’t have Brees. After a bad Brees-less season, he made a mess of the Saints cap space and then bowed out. With all that said, can the Cardinals and the fans trust him to stick around when the going gets tough? Can fans forgive him for his involvement in BountyGate?
Vance Joseph
Pros: Vance is a familiar face in the locker room and already has respect from his guys. Given the little talent he had, the Cardinals defense performed better than expected. Vance made adjustments when needed and you can respect a coach that can adjust and adapt. He has had a head coaching job before and perhaps he’s learned a lot more than his first time around.
Cons: There is no doubt Vance can get a head coaching job again at some point but his time in Arizona has run its course. He did make due with a limited roster, but at no point of the season did he have a top defense in the league. The Cardinals have been dysfunctional for the last few seasons and last season it all spiraled out of control. The team needs a fresh start and establish a new culture. Fans have seen enough of the old regime and that includes Vance. It would benefit everyone if he didn’t return.
Brian Flores
Pros: Brian Flores did a standup job in Miami as head coach of the Dolphins, which had many people baffled when he was let go. His tough-love attitude could be something Kyler Murray needs. Being a defensive-minded coach, he could help develop some of the younger guys on the roster. He spent this last season under Mike Tomlin, one of the most successful coaching in NFL history.
Cons: Flores’ departure was not a clean one and his past could be a distraction for the Cardinals. He is suing the league and it has been rumored he did not get along with QB Tua Tagovailoa. If he can’t get along with Tua, could he get along with Murray? He is also suing the league, which might have an effect on the team. For being a defensive coach, he never had a top defense in the league. A coach with past baggage might not help turn the culture around in Arizona, something the team desperately needs.
Frank Reich
Pros: Reich brings Super Bowl experience to the table. He was the Eagle’s offensive coordinator when they won their first Super Bowl. Not only did the Eagles win, they won with a backup QB. Reich knows how to adjust the offense when the first-string QB goes down, something the Cardinals will need if they open the season without Murray. Of all the candidates, Reich has a gentler style of coaching. An offensive minded coach with a softer style could bode well with Murray. Reich will have more success with young talent vs the aging vets he had in Indy.
Cons: Reich’s demeanor can also be a con. If he’s gonna get the respect of Kyler Murray he may have to be more demanding and show he will not put up with attitude. Kliff Kingsbury wasn’t a very inspiring leader and Reich may be the same way. Like Kliff, Reich was given an extension in the off-season before his firing. The difference is the Colts chose to fire Reich during the season. The season prior, the Colts collapsed at the end of the season and missed the playoffs by losing to the worst team in the league, the Jaguars. Reich’s recent history of losing doesn’t help his case.
Demeco Ryans
Pros: One of the most raved about candidates is Demeco Ryans. He’s been heavily endorsed by his current players and former Arizona Cardinal and defensive superstar, JJ Watt. His defense is ranked No. 1 in both points allowed and yards allowed. Being a former linebacker himself, he could help the development of Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins. Given that he’s the youngest of all the potential candidates, he’s got a high ceiling.
Cons: Ryans would be a first-time NFL head coach. We saw how that ended the last time the Cardinals hired a rookie coach. Ryan didn’t create the top-rated 49ers defense, he inherited it from Robert Saleh. You could add to the pro list that he didn’t do anything to mess that one up. Hiring a defensive-minded first time coach may be a disservice to Kyler Murray, especially coming off a bad season.
Dan Quinn
Pros: Quinn is no stranger to success on the defensive side. His defense has kept Dallas relevant in the past couple of seasons. He was also the defensive coordinator for the famous “Legion of Boom” in Seattle. He has head coaching experience under his belt, leading Atlanta to their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Although they did not win the Super Bowl, Quinn probably has learned from the loss. Players such as Micah Parsons and Larry Fitzgerald have given Quinn glowing reviews.
Cons: Quinn has had more success as a coordinator than as a head coach. His team didn’t just lose in the Super Bowl, they let the Patriots come back from an infamous 28-3 deficit. In Quinn’s six years as the head coach in Atlanta, he only has two winning records and was fired 5 weeks into the 2020 season. A glowing review from Larry Fitzgerald doesn’t hold a lot of weight, Fitz is known for never having anything negative to say.
