Former NFL coach could resurrect the Arizona Cardinals

Wooing Jim Harbaugh away from the college ranks could end up paying huge dividends for the Arizona Cardinals organization

The countdown to the end of this horrendous Arizona Cardinals season is on. The past four months have been excruciatingly long for the club’s fans. Optimistic followers of the Cardinals are hoping that there’s a light at the end of this depressing tunnel.

It was apparent early on that Steve Wilks is not cut out to be a head coach. Now, with just one game left to be played in 2018, there’s a growing belief that he’ll be stripped of that title next week. Arizona team President Michael Bidwill needs to make changes to an organization that has hit rock-bottom.

Whether general manager Steve Keim will keep his job or not is anybody’s guess. Despite that uncertainty, it’s pretty safe to say that a search for Wilks’ replacement should be underway. There’s an interesting name from the college ranks who would be an excellent candidate for the Cards to pursue.

University of Michigan head man Jim Harbaugh has already been linked to one NFL squad. The 55-year old has given no indication that he’d be willing to return to the pros, however. Harbaugh had a successful stint as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14), before a clash with management got him fired.

The 49ers made three NFC Championship game appearances with Harbaugh at the helm. His time there also included a trip to the Super Bowl, which resulted in a loss to his brother John’s Baltimore Ravens. In four years with San Francisco, Harbaugh compiled a 44-19-1 regular-season record, and won five out of eight postseason contests.

Harbaugh received high praise for his work with the 49er quarterbacks, in particular. The offensive guru has been credited with revitalizing the career of Alex Smith, who had struggled since being drafted in 2005. Colin Kaepernick also played his best football under the tutelage of Harbaugh.

It would be interesting to see what Harbaugh could do with Cardinals’ signal-caller Josh Rosen. The team’s first-round pick has suffered with the two play-callers (Mike McCoy, Byron Leftwich) that he’s been saddled with during his rookie campaign. A competent teacher like Harbaugh could quite possibly do wonders for a talented passer like Rosen.

It would most likely take a boatload of cash to lure Harbaugh away from Michigan. The Cards, like most NFL franchises, have plenty of money to spend. Harbaugh has already proven that he’d be worth the investment.