Nov 13, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens along the sidelines during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Say a prayer this evening for Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks coach Freddie Kitchens. He underwent heart surgery Tuesday evening at the Arizona Heart Institute. Surgery was performed after Kitchens complained of not feeling well during team OTA’s Tuesday afternoon in Tempe.
Kitchens, who was one of two coaching holdovers from the Ken Whisenhunt era, was evaluated by team trainers and told to go to the locker room. It was determined Tuesday that Kitchens had a defective aorta. Last time I checked, that was a pretty serious issue.
On Wednesday, Cards head coach Bruce Arians said he wasn’t out of the woods yet but cracked a joke after surgery. The Cards moved Kitchens from his tight ends coaching position to the quarterback coaching position during this off-season. At this point there is no prognosis and no word when and if he will return. We here at Raising Zona wish him nothing but the best. It is a scary situation, something Arians echoed on Wednesday. However it does sound like so far though, the surgery was a success. This is a situation we will stay on top of.
Kitchens, 38, is the former starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was their starter from 1995 to 1997.