Cards hire Kingsbury; Bucs land Arians
Got a strong leg? Like beer? Keep on reading
PHOENIX — The Arizona Cardinals have hired former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, a move aimed at providing guidance for young quarterback Josh Rosen and resuscitating the worst offense in the NFL.
The Cardinals announced the hiring Tuesday after a long interview earlier in the day. He was to be introduced at a news conference at the team’s training facility in Tempe on Wednesday.
Kingsbury was fired after going 35-40 in six seasons at Texas Tech, but his teams were known for their high-scoring performances. His prize pupil in those days was current Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Tuesday’s hiring came barely a month after Kingsbury was hired as offensive coordinator at USC.
Kingsbury, also a former offensive coordinator at Texas A&M where he worked with Johnny Manziel, replaces Steve Wilks, who was fired after going an NFL-worst 3-13 in his one season in Arizona.
That means Kingsbury will take over a team with the No. 1 overall draft pick, along with a bevy of other picks and lots of salary cap space.
After a one-year experiment with a defense-oriented coach in Wilks, Cardinals president Michael Bidwill acknowledged he got that hire wrong and vowed to get this one right. The Cardinals hope the hire can match the magic that happened when Sean McVay was hired by the Los Angeles Rams.
Kingsbury was let go after six seasons at Texas Tech and joined the USC staff as offensive coordinator on Dec. 5.
BUCCANEERS: Bruce Arians, 66, is the latest coach entrusted to transform struggling Tampa Bay into a winner.
Arians came out of a one-year retirement Tuesday to fill the team’s fifth coaching vacancy in a decade.
Arians replaces Dirk Koetter, who was dismissed Dec. 30 after leading the Bucs to 19 wins and no playoffs berths over the past three seasons.
Arians coached the Arizona Cardinals for five years, stepping down after the 2017 season with a 50-32-1 record that included one division title, two playoff berths, three seasons with double-digit wins and one NFC championship game appearance.
FREE BEER: On Sunday, the Chicago Bears lost a heartbreaker of a playoff game, as kicker Cody Parkey’s 43-yard field goal attempt clanged off the upright and crossbar to end what had been a promising season.
On Monday, amid the social media fury of irate football fans, Goose Island Beer Co. had an idea: Let the fans kick out their disappointment.
At first, the plan was to pile on Parkey, by staging tryouts to replace him. Then the Chicago brewery had a change of heart. Why not support him, and the Bears, instead?
The brewery announced on social media Monday night that it would do its part to help fans understand the difficulty of nailing a 43-yard field goal.
The prize? A free case of beer each week for a year for anyone who makes the kick.
So on Saturday afternoon, Goose Island will erect a goal in front of its brewery. Signups to kick will run from noon until 1 p.m. Kicking starts at 1 p.m.
FALCONS: Atlanta brought back two familiar names Tuesday by hiring Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator and Mike Mularkey to coach tight ends.
Koetter and Mularkey are joining coach Dan Quinn’s staff following stints as NFL head coaches.
Koetter returns after three years as Tampa Bay’s coach. Mularkey most recently spent two seasons as Tennessee’s coach.
PATRIOTS: Josh McDaniels expects to be with New England for at least another year.
The Patriots offensive coordinator said Tuesday that “the book is closed” on him interviewing for other open head coaching jobs and that he is committed to New England moving forward.