Cardinals Owner Says Head Coach Search Paused Ahead of Super Bowl

Arizona is one of two teams without a head coach after firing Kliff Kingsbury in January.

Less than a week after the Cardinals finalized their list of head coaching candidates, team owner Michael Bidwill provided an update on the timeline for an eventual hire on Friday.

Bidwill told reporters the club decided to pause on the coaching search until after Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII meeting between the Chiefs and Eagles. The Cardinals are currently at the center of the NFL world as they prepare to host the big game on their home turf, State Farm Stadium.

“It’s Super Bowl weekend and the entire NFL is focused on the Super Bowl so we’re going to pause throughout the rest of the weekend and get restarted on this on Monday morning,” Bidwill said, per the team’s official website.

Bidwill also noted where things stand with the club’s progress on approaching a decision. The owner’s remarks follow a Jan. 6 report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer stating Arizona narrowed its search down to three candidates: then-Steelers senior defensive assistant Brian Flores, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Flores has since fallen out of consideration after accepting a role as the Vikings defensive coordinator that same day.

“We’re excited about the great progress we have made,” Bidwill added. “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.”

As of Friday, Arizona conducted a second round of interviews with two candidates this week, according to Bidwill, though he declined to provide names. The search has been spearheaded by both Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort, who was hired on Jan. 16.

The Cardinals are currently one of two teams (Colts) still looking to hire a head coach in the aftermath of firing Kliff Kingsbury on Jan. 9. The club finished the 2022 campaign with a 4–13 record and out of the postseason picture for the third time in Kingsbury’s four-year tenure.