Arizona Cardinals: Old friend a viable coaching candidate

Todd Haley has the experience and offensive know-how to transform the Arizona Cardinals into a playoff-caliber team once again

The list of head-coaching candidates for the Arizona Cardinals has gotten shorter within the past week. It looks as if Pat Shurmur will eventually accept an offer from the New York Giants and Mike Munchak wants to remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After being spurned by two of their top choices, could the Cardinals look to bring in an old friend for the gig?

Todd Haley, Arizona’s offensive coordinator for two seasons under Ken Whisenhunt (2007-08) is searching for employment. In fact, there’s been talk of the 50-year old returning to the desert to run the squad’s offense once again. But with the way their coaching search is puttering along, perhaps the Cards should think about offering the fiery play-caller the top post.

Haley has an extraordinary offensive mind. He was let go as the Steelers’ coordinator after his Ben Roethlisberger-led scoring machine put up 42 points and 545 yards in their playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. There were rumblings that Haley and “Big Ben” weren’t getting along, possibly one of the main reasons for the assistant’s dismissal from the “Steel City “.

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Haley also has experience as a head coach, going 19-26 as the Kansas City Chiefs’ head man from 2009-11. Included in that tenure was an AFC West title in 2010 when he led the team to a 10-6 mark. The Chiefs were one and done during that postseason however, falling 30-7 to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card game.

Back in 2013, before Bruce Arians was hired, Haley’s name was being thrown about for the Cards’ head job. There have been reports suggesting that team President Michael Bidwill is fond of his former employee. If the Cardinals’ brass had interest in Haley back in ’13 then perhaps they could covet his services again at the current time.

The remaining coaching candidates being considered by Arizona’s front office are certainly nothing to write home about. Hiring a “blast from the past” could be an interesting way to fill the opening. A return by Haley could bring some excitement and intrigue to what’s been an uninspiring quest to find the Cards’ next leader.

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