Anthony Campanile as HC with Thomas Brown as OC

(David Zalubowski/AP)


By Walter Mitchell

I find it curious that Ravens and Dolphins fans are sky high on Jesse Minter and Jeff Hafley as their new head coaches and yet Cardinals' pundits are pushing for one of the experienced head coaches in the HC pool.

Remaining candidates with head coaching experience:

Sean McDermott --- the Bills Mafia have already gathered over 40,000 signatures in their impassioned attempt to have McDermott reinstated as head coach. This is following Terry Pegula's and Brandon Beane's debacle of a press conference wherein they blamed their loss to the Broncos on a blown call, but they fired McDermott anyway in part because "the coaches wanted us to draft Keon Coleman." McDermott has already stated that he does not want to go to rebuilding teams like the Cardinals. His situation is likely going to take a good deal more time to figure out. VERDICT:  OUT.

Raheem Morris --- it feels like Raheem Morris intends to take one of the most highly attractive DC jobs and work it the way Robert Saleh did in order to be a top HC candidate in 2027. VERDICT: OUT. (Besides, Coach camp's defense was way better than Raheem's this year)

Matt Nagy --- he was the Cardinals' first interview and since then was a finalist for the Titans' job, but Titans fans were extremely vocal in wanting Robert Saleh instead. Expect the same from Cardinals' fans, which Michael Bidwill will certainly be cognizant of. VERDICT: OUT

Arthur Smith --- too much baggage and mediocre results for fans to get excited about. VERDICT: OUT

Vance Joseph --- even the Arizona Republic have provided extensive proof of how unpopular bring Vance back to Arizona would be among the fans. VERDICT: OUT

Mike McCarthy --- it feels like that Mike McCarthy would rather sit out another year than sign on with the Cardinals. VERDICT: OUT

Why Anthony Campanile as HC with Thomas Brown as OC would be exciting for Cardinals' players and fans:

Anthony Campanile's qualifications:

Listen to this:

https://x.com/AZSports/status/2014492901565464700?s=20

Gary Smits just perfectly explained why Anthony Campanile would give the Cardinals something they have not had in a long time --- a run-stopping defense with top-level linebacker play and a heavy emphasis on swarm tackling. If the Cardinals are serious about fixing their woeful defense, Anthony Campanile is that coach.

Smits makes a great point about the job AC did with MLB Devin Lloyd whom prior to the season the Jaguars decided not to pick up his 5th year option. That's a decision they now regret.

Devin Loyd PFF 2025 overall grade: 88.5 (up 11.9 points from 2024

* Highest grade on the entire Jaguars' team.

* #3 LB in NFL behind only Fred Warner and Jack Campbell

* (per PFF) Lloyd is having a career year in what might be his final season in Jacksonville. After two solid but not special seasons, he is finally playing with the pedigree that earned him a first-round selection. His 89.3 PFF grade and 86.1 PFF coverage grade are good for second and third best among qualifying linebackers this season.

2026 NFL Free Agency: Early look at the top-graded players set to hit the market (pff.com)

2025 Cardinals LB grades:

* Mack Wilson Sr. - 60.1

* Cody Simon - 57.3

* Akeem Davis- Gaither - 49.9

Man, it would be very exciting to see what Coach Camp could do with Cody Simon who showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie. In Coach Camp's attack-style 4-3 defense, Mack Wilson Sr. would project as an OLB, which suits his game the best, as it did when he was with the Patriots.

Why shouldn't Cardinals' players and fans be just as excited about Anthony Campanile as the Ravens- and Dolphins are? Look at how Coach Camp's defense stacked up to Jesse Minter's and Jeff Hafley's:

2025 DEF Rankings (JAX/Campanile --- LAC/Minter --- GB/Hafley)

Total D: JAX-#11, LAC-#5, GB -#18 PASS: #21 --- #5 --- #11 RUSH: #1 --- #8 --- #18 POINTS ALLOWED: #8 --- #9 --- #11 TAKEAWAYS: #2 --- #7 --- #26

Anthony Campanile's 2025 JAX defense finished ahead of Jesse Minter's and Jeff Hafley's in (1) rush defense, (2) points allowed and (3) takeaways --- with not as much talent as the Chargers and Packers who were the #2 and #4 top defenses in 2024, when the Jaguars were #31.

It is also worthy to note that the Packers' defense which was #4 in 2024 with Anthony Campanile as the linebackers coach and dropped to #15 in 2025, despite the addition of Micah Parsons.

The Packers' run defense dropped from #7 in 2024 to #22 in 2025. We heard in the popular video clip Coach Camp talk very passionately about "pursuit" and the mentality it takes to make consistently big tackles on the football field.

By the way, did you know that the Jaguars gave Anthony Campanile the autonomy to hire his defensive assistants? One would expect him to bring a couple of his top assistants with him and that Coach Camp will want to continue to call the defensive plays himself. 

Thomas Brown's qualifications:

Thomas Brown (American football coach) - Wikipedia

NFL Experience:

Los Angeles Rams

[edit]

On February 12, 2020, Brown was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as their running backs coach under head coach Sean McVay.[24] He was given the additional title of assistant head coach on February 23, 2021.[25] Brown won Super Bowl LVI when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20.[26] In 2022, he transitioned from running backs coach to the team’s tight ends coach while retaining the assistant head coach title.[27]

Carolina Panthers

[edit]

On February 17, 2023, Brown was hired by the Carolina Panthers as their offensive coordinator under head coach Frank Reich.[28] On October 16, after starting 0-6, Frank Reich ceded play calling to Brown.[29] Brown was named one of the top offensive coordinators in the league in an NFLPA poll of players.[30]

Chicago Bears

[edit]

On January 30, 2024, Brown was hired by the Chicago Bears as their pass game coordinator under head coach Matt Eberflus.[31] On November 12, Brown was promoted to offensive coordinator following the firing of Shane Waldron.[32] On November 29, Brown was named interim head coach of the Bears following the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus after a 4–8 start of the 2024 season.[33] On January 23, 2025, the Bears announced they would not retain Brown for the 2025 season.[34]

New England Patriots

[edit]

On January 27, 2025, the New England Patriots hired Brown as their passing game coordinator and tight ends coach under the leadership of new head coach Mike Vrabel.[35]

What's to commend about Thomas Brown:

* Background in strength and conditioning.

* Cut his teeth as an NFL coach under Sean McVay.

* Has shown success as RB coach and passing game coordinator.

* Has had success calling plays.

* Was in interim head coach.

* Has worked with first round QBs Matthew Stafford, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.

* Mike Vrabel has been giving huge props to Thomas Brown for the surprising development of the Patriots' pass game under Josh McDaniels and Drake Maye. Drake Maye was #22 in passing yards in 2024 and this season he has jumped to #4 with 4,394 yards and #3 in the NFL with 31 TDs (regular season stats). In his two playoff wins against two of the NFL's top defenses in LAC and HOU, Maye has passed for 447 yards and 4 TDs.

Here is a great read about Thomas Brown's reflections on his career thus far:

Patriots assistant emerges as top NFL head coaching candidate - masslive.com

The tandem of Anthony Campanile and Thomas Brown as HC/OC, two young coaches who have helped their teams take worst-to-first type ascensions in 2025 is, in my opinion, as fascinating as it is exciting. 

How excited would you be to see Coach Camp and Coach Brown in Arizona?






Comments

  1. JethroBodineJanuary 23, 2026 at 7:55 AM

    You make a good argument Walt. Camp and Brown sound like they'd be a good combo. I think this team would also need a very good WR coach to work with Brown on getting the most out MHJ. If that happened id be optimistic about the pairing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Flash87January 23, 2026 at 9:56 AM

    You had me at swarm tackling. When is the last time this defense had teeth to it. This division demands great linebacker play. If we can out hit and out physical the 49ers or seahawks sign me up. Campanelli is well known in NJ football for their coaching tree. This coaching tandem would move the needle for us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Since 61January 23, 2026 at 11:17 AM

    Based solely on experience, Campanile has less high-level coaching experience than both Gannon and Brown at comparable career stages. Brown has the most overall experience, encompassing diverse roles across both college and the NFL.
    Gannon completely failed at leadership and CEO duties. An evaluation of those traits for the new staff will be determined by the two geniuses that evaluated the last failed staff.
    Klint Kubiak is still available and is still my top choice by a mile. He'll plugged into the League as a legacy coach and will attract a top tier talented staff. He's a can't miss HC if he'll take the job

    ReplyDelete
  4. Since 61January 23, 2026 at 3:29 PM

    In the intelligent words of Kyle Ledbetter "No more risky hires!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnfortunateFanJanuary 24, 2026 at 6:50 AM

      No such thing as an unrisky hire. Especially not for a team that is at the bottom of everyone's list.

      Delete
  5. UnfortunateFanJanuary 24, 2026 at 6:58 AM

    These are all good achievements, but none of it matters in evaluating who is going to be a great head coach. NFL history is filled with guys who were great coordinators and couldn't make it as head coaches. What you need is a guy like Curt Cignetti who has the right mentality and who figures out how to make everyone around him the best version of themselves. That's not something that just shows up in the stat sheets for coordinators. It does show up when they talk to the media and when other players talk about them.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Simpleman 2026January 24, 2026 at 9:54 AM

    Walter, you have more hope than most football fans that have been watching the Cardinals over the last few decades with this owner. I would hire John Mckay from LA for President of Football Ops to raise this embarrassment from the ashes. Tell Bidwill to take a Permanent Vacation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJanuary 26, 2026 at 2:38 AM

      Thanks, Simpleman, ain't no turning back now. As Emily Dickinson wrote. "Hope is the thing with feathers."

      Delete
  7. Since 61January 25, 2026 at 8:22 AM

    Whatphenomenal, exciting, genuinely competitive football the 2025 NFL season has delivered! The playoffs are a testament to the league's design for parity, where every single team theoretically has a shot to contend.
    Then, in stark, painful contrast, there's our Arizona Cardinals.
    While the rest of the league competed, the Cardinals' season was a predictable failure. They were officially and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention during Week 13 of the season. This was the earliest elimination since the franchise was in St. Louis in 1986, a fitting reflection of the team's ongoing futility, disfunction and Bidwill failure.
    The team finished the season with a pathetic 3-14 record, a new franchise record for losses in a season and a .176 winning percentage, their worst since 1959. Gannon was rightfully fired the day after the season ended, closing out a tenure that ranks among the worst in NFL history.
    This disappointment is nothing new: this losing franchise has mustered a miserable six playoff appearances in 38 seasons since relocating to Arizona in 1988.
    Now, they face another offseason of a coaching search, likely bringing in another risky, cheap, inexperienced staff to achieve their perennial main goal: maintaining the sweet spot of mediocrity that ensures a bite of the mandatory revenue-sharing profits regardless of performance.
    Enjoy the playoffs, rest of the league. We Cardinals fans have already moved on to our "Super Bowl": failing for the top pick and hoping a new coach can overcome the same old bad management.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simpleman 2026January 25, 2026 at 11:30 AM

      Spot On. Bidwill loves sucking off the NFL revenue sharing teet. Then Gannon gets rewarded by failure in AZ by inheriting M. Parsons in GB, what a country, Packer fans will soon find out….

      Delete
    2. Since 61January 25, 2026 at 7:33 PM

      I went on the Vox Packer site and told them they just hired the dumbest SOB in football

      Delete
  8. CardsFanSwedenJanuary 25, 2026 at 10:57 AM

    Hi Walter! As always thanks for a good article. I’m just wondering if it’s possible to get approved as a follower of yours in X. I check your tweets daily for cards insight.

    All the best from Stockholm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJanuary 26, 2026 at 2:36 AM

      Absolutely, my friend. Send me your X tag and I will follow you. Thanks for your support.

      Delete
    2. CardsFanSwedenJanuary 26, 2026 at 5:07 AM

      @carenfeltJ53282. I have sent a request.
      Appreciate all the time and effort you put into our Cardinals! May the confetti shower down on us one day! I for one am hopeful about the future.

      Delete
    3. Walter MitchellJanuary 26, 2026 at 8:40 AM

      Just followed you, Jacob, and gave you a shout out on the site!

      Delete

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