With Super Bowl LX just around the corner - a showdown between the Seahawks and Patriots - the head coaching carousel has nearly come to a stop. Nearly.
Two teams are still without a head coach: the Las Vegas Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals. And while the Raiders appear to have their sights set on Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak once Seattle’s season wraps, the Cardinals remain firmly in limbo.
Arizona’s vacancy has become one of the more puzzling storylines of this hiring cycle. This is still an NFL head coaching job we’re talking about - a rare opportunity in one of the most competitive leagues in sports. Yet, for some reason, the Cardinals are struggling to find a taker.
Kubiak was once seen as a strong candidate for the Arizona job, but reports indicate he’s not interested. Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, who interviewed multiple times with the Cardinals, has withdrawn from consideration.
Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur made it to a second interview but left without a deal. That’s three qualified candidates, all walking away without committing.
So what’s going on in the desert?
All Eyes on Michael Bidwill
If you ask Cardinals fans - and plenty of NFL insiders are starting to echo the sentiment - the issue might start at the very top: team owner Michael Bidwill.
This isn’t the first time Bidwill’s name has surfaced in conversations about the team’s struggles to attract top-tier coaching talent. Back in the 2023 offseason, Sean Payton was available and widely considered one of the most sought-after coaches on the market.
The Cardinals reportedly had a shot at landing him. Instead, Payton chose the Broncos and made it clear that ownership played a major role in his decision.
He spoke openly about how much he valued the support and structure he had under the Bensons in New Orleans, and he wanted something similar in his next stop. That didn’t point him toward Arizona.
Fast forward to now, and the pattern seems to be repeating.
Arizona has reportedly explored veteran options like Ron Rivera, who hasn’t coached since 2023. Rivera’s résumé includes a Super Bowl appearance and multiple playoff runs, but at this stage of his career, his name doesn’t exactly scream long-term solution. It feels more like a fallback plan - the kind of move a franchise makes when other doors have closed.
What’s the Hold-Up?
There’s no shortage of reasons why a head coach might hesitate to take a job, but when multiple candidates pass after interviews - or don’t engage at all - it raises red flags. Whether it’s organizational structure, lack of resources, or just a general feeling that the situation isn’t stable, something is keeping top candidates from buying in.
Could the Cardinals be preparing a massive offer to try and lure Kubiak after the Super Bowl? Maybe.
Or maybe they’re just trying to show they’ve exhausted every option before settling on someone who wasn’t at the top of their list. Either way, the optics aren’t great.
Bidwill is under real pressure here. With nearly every other team filling their vacancy quickly, Arizona’s prolonged search stands out - and not in a good way. The longer this drags on, the more it reinforces the perception that the Cardinals job just isn’t that appealing right now.
Whether that perception is fair or not, it’s the reality the Cardinals are facing. And until Bidwill can change that narrative - by landing a coach who brings credibility, direction, and energy - Arizona might keep finding itself on the outside looking in.