Although the NFL expanding to 17 games has an effect here, the Cardinals are likely to match their record for most losses in a season. The 4-12 team faces the 49ers in Week 18; another loss would match Arizona’s 2018 and 2000 seasons (13). It does not look like Kliff Kingsbury will survive such a result.
The Cardinals are expected to dismiss Kingsbury at season’s end, Armando Salguero of Outkick.com reports, noting that such a transaction is “kind of an open secret” by now. This move would come months after Kingsbury signed an extension that runs through 2027. With Steve Keim also rumored to be on the outs months after his extension, this would represent a remarkable course change for the Cardinals.
Kingsbury, 43, took over the Cards after their Steve Wilks-led 3-13 season and made a successful push for Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall. The Cardinals became the first team since the 1982-83 Baltimore Colts to take first-round quarterbacks in back-to-back years. While the Cards were proven right to reinvest via the Murray pick and move on from Josh Rosen, this season marked a significant step back for the dual-threat talent. Murray fell off the Pro Bowl tier and is now rehabbing a torn ACL. Prior to the injury, he and Kingsbury were not believed to be on good terms.
A recent report indicated Kingsbury resigning was possible, but that seemed the less likely conclusion compared to a firing. A resignation would prevent Kingsbury (28-36-1) from cashing in on the extension money he is entitled to by virtue of the deal he inked in March. Little has gone right since the Cards reupped their HC-GM combo, however.
The Cardinals maneuvered through messy Murray situations — the pre-draft extension demand and the fallout from the homework clause included in the five-year, $230.5MM deal — and a report indicated Kingsbury has been “extremely frustrated” with the quarterback he has known since the latter’s high school days. Murray’s deal ties him to the Cards through 2028, which always made him most likely to be the last one standing despite Kingsbury and Keim’s extensions.
Arizona entered the season unable to deploy its newly assembled DeAndre Hopkins–Marquise Brown tandem, due to Hopkins’ six-game PED ban, and Kingsbury then could not use the wideouts together upon the All-Pro’s return because of Brown’s foot injury. It took until Week 12 for the talented pair to see the field together. By that point, the Cardinals were 4-7. Although J.J. Watt has rebounded from another injury-plagued season to record 10.5 sacks in his final NFL campaign, Kingsbury’s team ran into health issues along its aging offensive line and at tight end. Zach Ertz was lost for the season with ACL and MCL tears in Week 10. Murray, who missed two games with a hamstring injury as well, has been out since Week 14 because of his ACL tear.
Kingsbury’s fourth Cards offense ranks 21st in both scoring and yardage — down considerably from the team’s playoff offense last season — and Vance Joseph‘s defense ranks outside the top 20 in points and yards as well. Should this firing commence, it will spell another setback for college coaches hoping to establish themselves at the sport’s highest level. Matt Rhule, Chip Kelly, Greg Schiano and Nick Saban are among the latest who failed to carry their success to the NFL. In Kingsbury’s case, he made the strange leap from being fired at Texas Tech in 2018 to joining the Cards — shortly after he signed on to be USC’s OC. If Michael Bidwill follows through on a firing, it can be safely assumed the owner will select his next coach from the NFL level.
Hopefully he’s throwing that hat out of the ring
Congratulations, Kliff. 4 years paid vacation and you never have to coach another Cardinals game again.
Laughing all the way to the bank
If this happens and Romans is let go, the next Ravens OC?
lol no, dude’s headed back to college. If he does score a job in the NFL, the only destination I could see is New England, strictly because Belichick has shown too much generosity toward coaches he’s worked with before who are still being paid by their former teams.
I could see the Ravens at least interviewing him. When healthy last year before Murray went down with that ankle injury they were dangerous. Get Lamar a decent receiver or 2 and let Cliff scheme up the O. Including, I believe, he does throw to RBs. Romans refuses to do this.
Kliff didn’t scheme anything up. He ran the most predictable offense in football, and it mostly relied on asking Murray to go out there and figure something out. You may be sick of Roman, but Kingsbury ain’t the answer.
Point taken Oooof, point taken.
Zero use in firing Kingsbury if Keim comes back. The man is horrible and appears not liked within the organization except being buddies with “ Never Ever Won a NFL Title Bidworst.”
I want the CAL Bears to hire him to make up for firing Sonny Dykes
Maybe he ends up at Mississippi State to replace his old coach, Mike Leach. He certainly doesn’t belong coaching at the NFL level.
I’ve been watching the Cardinals midseason HBO thing and he’s still in that “whoever shows up to work first must be doing the best job” mentality. While he has had to deal with some key injuries, that is basically the mindset of most high school coaches.
Kingsbury will not end up at Mississippi State anytime soon. They officially named Zack Arnett head coach on Dec. 15.
I hope the CAL Bears hire him
If they fire Cliff it would be hilarious if somehow Sean Payton was hired to replace him. At the same time further screwing over the Broncos lol.
Well, that move off dropping Wilks for Kingsbury really hasn’t aged well, has it? Wilks might earn himself another gig, even if it’s not with Carolina. Meanwhile, Kliff is heading back to college and likely staying there
I’m not sure who wants the Cards job, other than to get lots of $$$. The new coach will be stuck with Murray. Go get ‘em.
A failure at Texas Tech and a failure in the NFL. At some point you have to see he’s just not a good head coach. Stick to being a coordinator.
Amazing how coaches can go from the penthouse to the outhouse in no time. A couple years ago, this guy was “most likely to” in all categories along with guys like McVay. Now? Not so much
Dual threat QB’s are garbage in my opinion. Whoever the next coach is has to deal with that malcontent of a would be QB known as Murray.
A triple threat QB is the way to go but they don’t make players like Sammy Baugh any more.
The Bidwill’s have owned the cards for 60 years. Here is their W-L record over 6 decades.
The team’s all-time win–loss record (including regular season and playoff games) at the conclusion of the 2021 season is 584–787–41 ( 577–777–41 in the regular season, 7–10 in the playoffs).
That has to be an all time losing record in all of pro sports by 1 family.
To be fair mike is light years better than his dad and you should show his win lose compared to his father’s.
Mike is 3rd generation owner. He has a winning percentage of 55%. Plus he re-upped a bad GM, HC, & QB in the same offseason. Firing 2 out of the 3.
Yeah but it’s so much better than 90’s 00’s. The guys dad never spent money but yeah I think we have been the worst drafting team all time and it’s not even close.
Drafting a kicker 15th overall in 1978 was a brilliant move. Steve Little almost managed to hit half of his FG attempts during his brief career.
Bidwill Family purchased the Chicago Cardinals in 1932. 90 years, one championship.
It’s the right move. He’s lost them. They aren’t playing as a unit and they aren’t playing full effort for 60. It’s visible. The injuries aren’t an excuse to not show up. The 9ers have been destroyed by injuries last few years; you’ve never questioned the coaching, never questioned the effort. This team and Kliff is like the opposite of that
I think Kliff is actually a decent coach but for whatever reason things haven’t worked out and the cards FO are left with no choice really.
To much talent to only have 4 wins.
I’d go for a defensive coach and get that side of the ball working and bring in a new OC that can hopefully bring with him fresh ideas and get Kyler DHop Brown and Ertz all firing together.
Brain Flores would be bold, Dan Quinn would be smart and I’d even interview Vic Fangio
The Bidwill clown car. Running on empty since 1960.
Since 1932
Obviously Kyler Murray is not doing his homework. He wants to be rebel and not study film to “show them” he can’t be told what to do. The result is a 4-13 season.
Not that I would like to see him go, but Steichen would be a good HC fit for the Cards. He’s done well with Hurts, it stands to reason that his offense could also work with Kyler.
This is the greatest news in Cardinals history.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I never thought Murray would have lasting success in the NFL. Said it when he was in college and say it now. He has relied on his superior athletic ability all his life. With that also came an attitude that he was the best and knew what was better on the field and coaching be damned.
Well, yes in college you can get away with having 4.4 speed and out running players, who a majority after college will be working regular jobs. However, when you’re listed as a generous 6’ and have to throw over 6’5 and taller guys on the line it don’t cut it. Plus after the first season when DC’s adjusted for him and he couldn’t now outrun LB’s and Safeties who also run a 4.4 or better, his play came down to earth. Who knows what his quickness will be after this acl injury.
Plus, you could see he didn’t listen to coaching, thought he knew better and rode roughshod over his coach, and did it ‘his’ way.
Good luck Arizona, you’re now hitched to a QB, and have to saddle whatever guy you overpay to come in to put up with him.
I don’t know much but didn’t buy into this guy having much success at the NFL level. Just looks like peewee football at some point. Not gonna be able to run around everywhere forever.
Yes, not too old to remember Randle Cunningham of the Eagles and his QB philosophy of “everybody go long” and I’ll run around until you get free.
Maybe the Texans will get him to be their OC
go to Carolina’s web page, great link to story on EXACTLY why college coaches are failing in the NFL. Owners READ it.
What a horribly run organization. Not sure why anyone worth anything would want this job.