Bidwill's Head Coaching Decisions
photo: courtesy of Yahoo Sports
By Walter Mitchell
With the Cardinals now on their 5th new head coach since Michael Bidwill took command of the Cardinals' football operations in 2013, here is an in-depth look of Bidwill's decision making as a means for discovering common trends, redundancies and predilections.
2013-2017
Bidwill fires long-time Cardinals' GM Rod Graves who took the Cardinals to their only Super Bowl and represented the organization with class.
New GM: Steve Keim (0 years' experience as GM)
New HC: Bruce Arians (interim HC with IND)
Staff: Arians was given full autonomy to hire his own staff
QB: Carson Palmer (traded to ARI from OAK for 2013 6th round pick)
OC: Arians (5 years OC in PIT, 1 year OC in IND)
DC: Todd Bowles (1-year interim DC in PHI. 2 years DC in ARI); James Betcher (0 years DC experience, 3 years DC in ARI)
STC: Amos Jones (0 years STC experience)
Top Draft Picks --- Biggest Busts:
2013 --- S Tyrann Mathieu (R3) --- biggest bust: G Jonathan Cooper (R1)
2014 --- LB Deone Bucannon (R1), WR John Brown (r3) --- biggest bust: TE Troy Niklas (R2)
2015 --- ED Markus Golden (R2), RB David Johnson (R3) --- biggest bust: T D.J. Humphries (R1)
2016 --- none --- biggest busts: DT Robert Nkemduche (R1), CB Brandon Williams (R3)
2017 --- Haason Reddick (R1); Budda Baker (R2) --- biggest bust: WR Chad Williams (R3)
NFC West Titles: 1 (2025)
Playoff Seasons: 2 (2014, 2015) 1-2 record
NFC Championship Games: 1 (2015)
NFL Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians 2014
NFL GM of Year: Steve Keim 2014 (Sporting News)
Top 10 Rankings:
Offense: Yards: #2 (2015), #9 (2016)
Offense: Points: #2 (2015), #6 (2016)
Offense: Passing: #3 (2015), #9 (2016)
Offense: Rushing: #8 (2015)
Defense: Yards: #6 (2013), #5 (2015), #2 (2016), #6 (2017)
Defense: Points: #7 (2013), #4 (2014), #8 (2015)
Defense: Passing: #8 (2015), #4 (2016)
Defense: Rushing: #1 (2013), #6 (2015), #9 (2016), #5 (2017)
Total Record: 50-32-1 (60%) including playoffs --- most wins (50) and highest winning percentage (60%) in modern franchise history.
Arians retired after 2017 season amidst specualti0on that he was being pushed out due to health concerns by Michael Bidwill against the wishes of Arians and Steve Keim.
2018
GM: Steve Keim (suspended for 5 weeks for 2nd DUI arrest)
New Head Coach: Steve Wilks (No HC experience)
Staff: Mostly hired by Steve Keim.
QB: Sam Bradford, Josh Rosen (ARI traded picks #15, #79 and #152 to OAK to select Rosen at #10)
OC: Mike McCoy (Keim appointee who was fired after 7 games)
DC: Al Holcomb (Wilks appointee, 0 years of DC experience, 1 season as DC in ARI )
STC: Jeff Rodgers (Keim appointee, 4 years STC in DEN, 3 years STC in CHI)
Top Draft Picks --- Biggest Bust:
2018: WR Christian Kirk (R2); RB Chase Edmonds (R2) --- biggest bust: QB Josh Rosen (R1)
Total Record: 3-13 (18.9%) --- worst record in modern franchise history.
Wilks is fired after one season and in light of the fact that Wilks was forced to accept Bidwill's and Keim's breaking of Keim's suspension terms, remains a critical part of Brian Flores' lawsuit regarding NFL owners' poor treatment of minority head coaches.
2019 - 2022
GM: Steve Keim
New HC: Kliff Kingsbury (0 years NFL coaching)
Staff: Save for WR coach David Raih. Steve Keim hired the entire staff
QB: Kyler Murray (#1 pick of 2019 NFL Draft)
OC: Kliff Kingsbury
DC: Vance Joseph (1 year DC in MIA, 2 years HC in DEN)
STC: Jeff Rodgers (retained)
Top Draft Picks --- Biggest Busts
2019 --- QB Kyler Murray (R1), CB Byron Muphy Jr. (R2), DT Zach Allen (R3) --- biggest bust: WR Andy Isabella (R2 with pick from MIA for Josh Rosen)
2020 --- LB Isaiah Simmons (R1)
2021 --- LB Zaven Collins; WR Rondale Moore (R2)
2022 --- TE Trey McBride
Playoff Seasons: 1 (2021) 0-1
Top 10 Rankins:
Offense: Yards: #6 (2020), #8 (2021)
Offense: Passing: #10 (2021)
Offense: Rushing: #10 (2019), #7 (2020), #10 (2021)
Defense> Passing: #10 (2020), #7 (2021),
Total Record: 28-37-1 (43.2%)
Kingsbury. amidst the Kyler Murray holdout, was signed to a 5-year contract extension that the Cardinals are still paying for having fired him following the team's dismal 4-13 season in 2022.
Steve Keim resigned from the Cardinals due to health issues, just 1 year into his -year contract extension.
2023 - 2025
New GM: Monti Ossenfort (0 years GM experience)
New HC: Jonathan Gannon (0 years HC experience)
Staff: Mostly Jonathan Gannon connections
QB: Kyler Murray
OC: Drew Petzing (0 years OC experience)
DC: Nick Rallis (0 years DC experience)
STC: Jeff Rodgers (retained)
Top Draft Picks:
2023 --- T Paris Johnson Jr. (R1), CB Garrett Williams (R3), WR Michael Wilson (R3)
2024 --- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
2025 --- DT Walter Nolem (R1), CB Will Johnson (R2)
Top 10 Rankings
Offense: Rushing: #4 (2023), #7 (2024)
Offense: Passing: #7 (2025)
Total Record: 15-36 (29.4%) --- lowest winning percentage in the modern history of the franchise for head coaches given more than one season.
Saying that despite the reality that Gannon was loved by everyone, Michael Bidwill fired him because, "I want to win."
2026 --- ?
GM: Monti Ossenfort
New HC: Mike LaFleur (0 HC experience)
Staff: A mix of LaFleur and Ossenfort appointees
QB: Uncertain with Jacoby Brissett holding out, Gardner Minshew making $5.1M g-ted and Carson Beck (selected in R3 of the 2026 NFL Draft)
OC: Nathaniel Hackett (11 years OC experience with BUF, JAX, GB, NYJ)
DC: Nick Rallis (retained)
STC: Michael Ghobrial (4 years STC experience with DET, NYG)
Top Draft Picks: RB Jeremiyah Love (R1), G Chase Bisontis (R2), QB Carson Beck (R3)
Total Record: 0-0
Bidwill's Trends:
GM hires --- 0 years of experience
HC hires --- 0 years of experience
OC hires --- good with Arias and Kingsbury calling the plays
DC hires --- good early on
Staff hires --- 3 playoff seasons achieved with experienced staffs, but Gannon's staffs were by far least experienced in the NFL
Drafts --- far too many busts on Day 1 and Day 2, as Bidwill makes majority of 1st round picks.
QB Stability/Full Support of Teammates --- none since Carson Palmer (when healthy) and seeing as it appears that Bidwill is unwilling to listen to the locker room about their trust in Jacoby Brissett.
34 Defense --- can't get the right fits at linebacker and across the board on the front 7, while pass coverages have been too consistently soft since Todd Bowles was DC.
Points For and Against trending in the wrong direction due to the continued struggles of the defense (ironically for the last 3 years under a defensive-minded head coach):
Seasons where Cardinals' Points For were greater that Points Against
Arians:
* 2013: 379/324 --- +55
* 2014: 310/299 --- +11
* 2015: 489/313 --- +176
* 2016: 418/362 --- +56
Kingsbury:
* 2020: 410/367 --- +43
* 2021: 449/336 --- +113
Wilks
Gannon
* 2024: 400/379 --- +21
Three Worst Defenses:
* 2025 488 points against (Gannon/Rallis)
* 2023: 455 points against (Gannon/Rallis)
* 2022: 449 points against (Kingsbury/.Joseph)
That's 3 of the last 4 seasons.
Trend: 2 new GMs. 5 new Head Coaches since 2013 --- not a single one with NFL GM or HC experience.
New Head Coaches' Inherited Dramas:
Arians --- none
Wilks --- David Johnson holdout
Kingsbury --- Patrick Peterson suspension and "snakes in the grass" drama, then Kyler Murray holdout, Chandler Jones discontent
Gannon --- Budda Baker holdout
LaFleur --- Jacoby Brissett holdout
Next article: "% Keys to Mike LaFleur's Potential Success as Cardinals' Head Coach
Cardinals' Bad PR Involving:
1. Ron Minegar
2. Terry McDonough
3. Steve Keim DUI
4. Walkie-Talkies forced on new HC Wilks
5. "Josh is our guy."
6. ESPN report of workplace misconduct and abuse at Cardinals' facilities administered by Michael Bidwill.
7. New York Times article in which Kyler Murray asserts that he doesn't "have to watch a lot of film" because "I can see things before they happen."
8. Playoff embarrassment in LA, capped off by the QB refusing to finish the game.
9. Kyler Murray scrubbing all-things and images Cardinals'-related off his social media accounts, with agent issuing threatening manifesto all over social media.
10. Almost the entire Cardinals' offense skipping 2022 OTAs with Super Bowl coming to Arizona that season.
11. Kyler's contract and the now infamous "homework clause."
12. Reports of Kyler Murray and Hollywood Brown showing up late to meetings in 2022.
13. Offensive line coach, Seak Kugler, who was not fired by Michael Bidwill after the HC cited incidents of insubordination, is arrested the night before the team's game in Mexico City for groping a woman in a bar.
14. Cardinals' failing NFLPA report card grades, most recently coming in #32 in the NFL.
15. Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon striking RB Emari Demercado on sidelines for his goal line fumble.
16. Cardinals' director of college scouting, Ryan Gold, getting suspended indefinitely by the NFL for gambling violations and the leaking of Cardinals draft pick selection prior to them being announced by the team. Gold's agent/lawyer is now appealing the case.
Any others not mentioned?
Red Rain Questions:
1. What do you make of Michael Bidwill's history of decision-making and where it appears to be headed?
2. What changes do you want to see from Mike LaFleur and his staff?
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Generally speaking for the Michael years:
ReplyDelete(1) Players in general are unhappy when they depart: Matthieu, C Jones, P Peterson, H Reddick, Z Allen, B Murphy , Humphries- all willing to trash team publicly for how they were treated (specific to ownership). How many players coming through organization are willfully seeking another team to play for. The snakes in grass comment is perfect example.
(2) No HC is willing to work for Bidwill, Bidwill stuck into hiring 0 exp guys for his treatment of past coaches and players (see 1 above) - every hiring process is like a shampoo (rinse & repeat as necessary).
(3) WHY? Bidwill reputation with coaches and players (and fans) is one of being CHEAP, Meddlesome micro-manager without football knowledge - supported by the players report cards of charging for meals, lack of childcare, and league worst training facilities. And his front office staff filing grievances for harassment and bullying (paraphrasing), the lawsuits filed by front office staff and coach Wilks. All these things combined leave a bloody trail a mile long.
As such we have no stability as an organization. Bidwill likes his 'yes men' which leads to poor football decisions (e.g. signing Murray to big contract despite the red flags and flaws).
Fans like us have grown weary of Bidwillian speak "We want to Win..." - When all evidence and results prove the exact opposite - You can't 'win' if your constantly changing your coaching staff and rebuilding the roster every three years. Michael doesn't know what winning is - he experienced it, never learned winning ways from family, friends, or staff.
Like. RR, this current hire of Mike LaFleur feels like another compromising quid pro quo --- Bidwill just couldn't and wouldn't give LaFleur a clean slate, he had to burden him by retaining Nick Rallis and low-balling Jacoby Brissett.
DeleteI agree Walter - This new coaching staff doesn't appear to be one that can move the needle (IMO) Bidwill has simply just replaced one yes man (Gannon) for another (LeFleur) that he (Bidwill) can control the narrative and place blame on anyone other than himself.
DeleteBidwills' retaining of arguably the worst DC in league and worst GM in league provided proof for any fan that the goal of the year was another tank year dictated by Bidwill so as to get highest draft selection to draft a QB in 2027. IMO, every Season ticket holder should have boycotted this season, and still should.
Bidwill is choosing to "play - hard-ball" on paying Brissett expecting him to play out the 'backup minimum' contract he already signed (whilst Bidwill is paying Minshew more this year than Brissett, and Brissett only has 1.5M guaranteed). I do not believe there is a veteran QB in league who would accept what Bidwill expects - this is Bidwill's complete disrespect for the men (players) representing his franchise. It supports the cheap narrative and will keep future players from signing with the Snakes (always a preferred name over Cardinal; but yes we do have Cardinals in AZ just less common then our better known snakes). The Brissett 'drama' is just that, drama on a team that didn't need it. Meanwhile...Bidwill is still paying for his bad decision paying salaries of Kingsbury, Murray, and Keim - just poor decision making at every opportunity.
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DeleteMy impression is that MB wants people he can control. I don't think it is that he can't hire experienced coaches, I think it's that he doesn't want to. The time with Arians for the fans was about the most enjoyable stretch of Cardinal football there has been, but I think for MB it was miserable. He didn't like having someone who disagreed with him and he certainly didn't like being proven wrong constantly.
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DeleteThe trend isn't just "0 years of coaching/GM experience." The trend is that this franchise has never once let a roster compound. Every coach starts from scratch because Bidwill keeps resetting the clock right before it strikes noon on continuity. LaFleur is the first to inherit real talent — of the 35 players Ossenfort has drafted since 2023, 33 remain on the roster. Harrison, McBride, Wilson, Love, Nolen, Will Johnson — the cupboard might be finally stocked (stocked but not developed). However, that's despite holding on to the worst DC in team /League history and probably dumping the QB who ran off your #1 draft pick resulting in $46m dead money. That's enough to "tank" our new HCs ability to change the loser narrative his first season. AGAIN, it's the man who keeps blowing the building up right before the foundation sets.
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DeleteAnd during this same period jr has become a multi billionaire so nothing is going to change. Coaches need paychecks, players need drafted even if it’s the worst franchise in pro sports and players will take big contracts over winning just to get along..media will continue to kiss his behind for access and the valley keeps growing with new nfl fans…what a racket for jr.
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