The Arizona Cardinals fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury less than a year after signing him to an extension through the 2027 season.
So far, there has been no indication as to where they are going for a new head coach. Many reports have claimed that coaches are steering clear because of QB Kyler Murray.
It appears that was the same reason why Sean Payton decided not to come to town.
Newsday’s Tom Rock says he sat down with Fox Sports NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw and learned that Payton didn’t take the Cardinals job thanks to Kyler Murray.
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Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline offered the following on why the Cardinals have yet to find a head coach:
“Why is the Arizona Cardinals head coach job taking so long to fill? If you are to believe what people in Mobile are saying, it’s due to Kyler Murray — and it’s not because the quarterback has a large say in the matter,” said Pauline.
“Rather, many of the desired candidates don’t want to take the job knowing they’ll be tied to the hip of Murray for the next four seasons. Murray signed a five-year, $230 million contract in late August, and anyone who takes the Cardinals job will have no options in the foreseeable future at quarterback.”
Kingsbury went 28-37-1 in four seasons in Arizona. He was dismissed after the Cardinals closed the 2022 season at 4-13, including a run of seven straight losses to end the year.
The lack of clarity regarding Murray’s status may wind up impacting the Cardinals’ coaching search. Murray is in the beginning stages of his rehab from tearing his ACL and meniscus in Week 14. Not to mention, there haven’t been too many good things said about him since the franchise gave him a lucrative deal.
The 2023 season is already looking like a lost season and no coach really wants to sign up for that not knowing if the team would bring them back for a second season.
