The Cardinals Pulling the Same Play
Introduction: Pay Attention To What is Going On
This has been a record-breaking off-season, and technically, the new league season doesn't even begin until March 11. I say "off-season" sarcastically, of course, because for front offices, the work never stops. We saw 10 teams fire their coaches this cycle—a list that included playoff regulars, former Coaches of the Year, and even legends who had spent nearly two decades with a single organization.
The league is getting weirder by the year. Look at the Philadelphia Eagles: analysts are suggesting they are having a nightmare of a time finding an Offensive Coordinator. They’ve been searching for two weeks for what will be their fifth OC in as many years.
Thankfully, the dust is starting to settle. There have been eight new hires so far, leaving only two chairs left at the table: The Las Vegas Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals. The Raiders are a total mystery. They currently owe over $50 million to a "ghost roster" of fired coaches, a list that still includes Jon Gruden from over five years ago! With that kind of financial baggage, who knows what they’ll do?
But the Cardinals? I think I see exactly what their plan is for filling that Head Coaching role. They aren't just looking for a coach; they’re looking to repeat history.
Section 2: Jonathan Gannon: How You Get Him is How You Replace Him
Roughly three years ago, the Cardinals moved on from Kliff Kingsbury after a mediocre stint that saw only one playoff appearance. It became clear that the Kliff and Kyler pairing just couldn’t get over the hump. At that same time, the Philadelphia Eagles were having a historic year, reaching the Super Bowl only to fall short against the Chiefs.
That was when Arizona made its move for Jonathan Gannon. The hire happened almost immediately after the Super Bowl ended—so fast, in fact, that it raised suspicions about the hiring process and led to the Cardinals being penalized for tampering.
Fast forward to today, and history is repeating itself. Arizona has moved on from Gannon, and as I mentioned earlier, 8 out of the 10 teams with vacancies have already found their man. Arizona is one of the last two teams standing.
If you look at the recent history in Arizona, there is a clear pattern of alternating between defensive-minded and offensive-minded coaches:
Steve Wilks (Defensive)
Kliff Kingsbury (Offensive)
Jonathan Gannon (Defensive)
Following that logic, I believe the Cardinals are heading back to an offensive-minded coach. I suspect they are being quiet right now because their primary targets are currently preparing for the Super Bowl. They are likely trying to do it "the right way" this time to avoid the drama that surrounded the Gannon hire.
With Klint Kubiak (Seahawks OC) and the Patriots' offensive staff (coached by Mike Vrabel) currently in the spotlight for Super Bowl LX, Arizona seems content to wait. They’ve seen this movie before—they just hope this time the ending is different for Kyler Murray.
Section 3: Klint Kubiak is the Guy
I believe Klint Kubiak is the guy for the job. In his first year as the Seahawks' Offensive Coordinator, he has done something few thought possible: he took Sam Darnold and built an MVP-caliber season around him. Paired with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a dominant zone-running game, Kubiak has Seattle competing for a Super Bowl.
Kubiak fits exactly what the NFL "meta" is today: find a young, 30-something, offensive-minded, innovative play-caller. Kubiak hits every mark. He’s 38, calls the plays for one of the league's top-scoring offenses, and has proven he can adapt his scheme to his players’ strengths.
What adds more weight to this theory is his background. He is currently running the offense for a defensive-minded head coach (Mike Macdonald), meaning the Cardinals know they are getting someone who can manage that entire side of the ball independently.
The trend here is strikingly similar to the Jonathan Gannon hire:
- Gannon (2023): Early 40s, ran the entire defense under an offensive-minded HC, and was hired immediately after a Super Bowl appearance in his second season with the team.
- Kubiak (2026): Late 30s, runs the entire offense under a defensive-minded HC, and is currently in the Super Bowl in his first/second year of a massive breakout.
The answer is in plain sight. Arizona isn't just looking for a coach; they are looking for the offensive version of the Gannon blueprint. If they wait until the day after the Super Bowl to announce Kubiak, don't say I didn't warn you.
