Former Arizona Cardinals offensive assistant Freddie Kitchens has suddenly emerged as a candidate for a head-coaching position
The Arizona Cardinals obviously didn’t know what they had. For 11 seasons, the club employed an assistant coach who is currently garnering a load of attention around the NFL. An offensive-minded individual who could possibly end up back in the desert to assume a more important role.
Freddie Kitchens, who left the Cards for the Cleveland Browns almost a year ago, has suddenly emerged as a head-coaching candidate. Opportunity presented itself back on October 29th, when the “Dawg Pound” sent both head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley packing. The shakeup ended up being most beneficial to Kitchens, who was handed the Browns’ play-calling duties as a result of the duo’s dismissal.
Kitchens has taken full advantage of the promotion. The work that the 44-year old has done with Cleveland rookie Baker Mayfield has been particularly impressive. The first pick of the 2018 NFL draft has caught fire, and Kitchens is receiving much of the credit for the quarterback’s second half of the year emergence.
Whether Kitchens can parlay the success he’s had running the Browns scoring attack into a head job remains to be seen. The Cardinals could soon have a vacancy at that spot. If the club does send Steve Wilks on his way, could Kitchens return to Arizona for a second stint?
Kitchens certainly left the organization on good terms. Before he left for Cleveland, the former University of Alabama passer did something classy. Kitchens penned a heartfelt open letter to the franchise and it’s fans, thanking everyone for making his stay with the Cards a pleasant one.
The first order of business is to rid themselves of Wilks and his awful staff. Then, and only then, can a capable head coach be brought in to right the Cardinals ship. Perhaps Kitchens will get the chance to be that guy.