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Arizona Cardinals: 8 head coaches ranked

By Scott Allen

Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of Arizona Cardinals tackle Jared Veldheer (not pictured) helmet during the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 22-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of Arizona Cardinals tackle Jared Veldheer (not pictured) helmet during the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 22-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Vince Tobin

Tobin was the first coach to get the Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs in 1998.  It was the third season as head coach of the Cardinals.  Tobin coached the Cardinals from 1996-2000.

Part of his success in Arizona though had to do with quarterback Jake Plummer.  Plummer helped the Cardinals to their first playoff appearance and their first winning record in the desert at 9-7 in the 1998 season.

Tobin had been a career assistant until he got the gig in Arizona to be the head coach.  It would be the only head coaching position he would ever hold.

He wasn’t the most exciting or most fiery coach you would meet.  He wasn’t flashy like Buddy Ryan, not as abrasive as Gene Stallings, not as hard-nosed as Joe Bugel.

Tobin though made it five seasons in the desert.  It was the longest tenure by any Cardinals coach in Arizona to that point.

After his winning season in 1998, the Cardinals felt like they had a plan in place and Tobin would be around for awhile.  However the team went back to its losing ways in 1999, finishing a disappointing 6-10 and then a miserable 3-13 in 2000.  That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Time to find a new head coach once again.

Next: A Bear Bryant student

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