NFL coaching carousel tracker 2023: Who’s been fired, who’s been hired?

Arizona Cardinals: Kliff Kingsbury -> Jonathan Gannon

This needed to happen. To be frank, it was odd for Kliff Kingsbury to be hired as the Arizona Cardinals head coach in the first place. After not achieving bowl eligibility at his alma mater of Texas Tech with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback, Kingsbury took over in The Valley for Kyler Murray reasons. His 2021 team was a strong one, but Kingsbury went 28-37-1 in four seasons.

With long-time general manager Steve Keim taking an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons and not excepted to return in 2023, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill will have to make two huge hires this offseason. Although Murray is coming off a season-ending injury, the talented, but mercurial quarterback is certainly worth building a winning team around. Who will coach him?

Arizona was the last team to fire its former head coach, so it is only fitting the Cardinals were the last team to hire its new one. Bidwill waited until after the hosting Super Bowl before prying defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon away from the Philadelphia Eagles. He interviewed very well for the job, beating out the other finalist for the gig in Lou Anarumo of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Gannon’s defense was a big reason behind the Birds’ return to prominence under Nick Sirianni. Although he interviewed with the Houston Texans this year and last, it was clear was not going to beat out former star linebacker DeMeco Ryans for the job. It felt all along that the Cardinals wanted to go with a savvy defensive mind with this hire. They clearly got one with Gannon now.

Expect for the Cardinals to probably take the best defensive player available when picking at No. 3.

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