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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 20, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide former coach Gene Stallings greets fans on the sideline before the Alabama Crimson Tide
Sep 20, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide former coach Gene Stallings greets fans on the sideline before the Alabama Crimson Tide /

4. Gene Stallings

Stallings was a Bear Bryant disciple.  He started with the St. Louis Cardinals as head coach in 1986, two seasons before the team moved out west.

After a 7-4 start in the Cardinals first season in Arizona, it appeared things were going great.  They had a shot at winning the NFC East and people were talking playoffs in the organization’s first season in the desert.

Unfortunately the Cardinals lost their last five games of the season and finished 7-9.  Much of that was due though to the injury to quarterback Neil Lomax.  It was more than the Cardinals could overcome.

Then in 1989, the Cardinals fired Stallings after a 37-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, sending the Cardinals to a 5-6 record.  His replacement, Hank Kuhlmann, went 0-5 to finish the season and the team finished 5-11.

After leaving Arizona, Stallings went back to Alabama and in 1992 won a national championship for the Crimson Tide.  He finished out his coaching career in 1996 with the Tide.  During his time with the Cardinals, Stallings compiled a 23-34-1 record.

Next: A coach loved by all sides

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