The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly reached out to former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator for the same vacancy on their staff.
The Arizona Cardinals aren’t wasting time looking for a replacement for defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who was hired as the next head coach of the New York Jets. The Cardinals have reportedly already reached out to Mike Nolan for the vacancy, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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Nolan spent the last three seasons running the defense for the Atlanta Falcons, who didn’t exactly take the league by storm with their defense. The Falcons allowed more yards in 2014 than any other team in the NFL, which spurred the team to fire head coach Mike Smith and the accompanying staff. Atlanta has since hotly pursued Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn for their head coaching vacancy.
Mike Nolan comes with head coaching experience of his own, having helmed the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-2008. He has extensive experience in running NFL defenses and while his recent record hasn’t been great, it’s fair to say that Nolan could stand a better chance with a much more talented unit in Arizona.
The Cardinals defense was the sole driving force behind the team’s playoff run once quarterback Carson Palmer went down with injury, followed by their only NFL-caliber backup Drew Stanton also going down for the season. The team clearly has a firm identity under head coach Bruce Arians and they just need a steady hand on the defense to keep the momentum rolling on the heels of an 11-win season and a playoff berth.
Schefter notes the Cardinals have also scheduled an interview with former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who had parted ways with the team after their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
This should be one of the most appealing jobs in the league for a defensive coach. The Cardinals are trending upward with a talented defense and a determined coach in Arians, who has clearly elevated this team to a new level. Had Arizona retained its quarterbacks this season, they could have been a serious contender for the Super Bowl.
Now the team can continue to improve this offseason as an attractive destination for both coaches and players. We’ll find out if Mike Nolan decides upon this location as the best for his skill set and experience.
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