Deceased coach remembered by Arizona Cardinals organization

The passing of former head coach Jim Hanifan this past Tuesday has had a profound effect on the Arizona Cardinals organization

Earlier this week, the Arizona Cardinals organization received some heartbreaking news. On Tuesday, one of the franchise’s most-beloved head coaches, Jim Hanifan, passed away at the age of 87. In a statement released from the team on Thanksgiving Day, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill let it be known that the well-liked Hanifan will be sorely missed.

“Jim Hanifan was a great football coach but an even better man and mentor to many men and women around the game of football,” Bidwill said in the statement. “On the field, he was known as one of the greatest teachers of offensive line play the game has ever seen”.

Back in 1980, the then-St. Louis Cardinals hired Hanifan to be the squad’s head coach. The California native held that position for six seasons, tying Ken Whisenhunt and Jimmy Conzelman as the longest-tenured coaches in Cards history. Hanifan compiled a 39-49-1 record, engineering three winning campaigns during his stint with Big Red.

Prior to being elevated to head coach in ’80, Hanifan served as the architect of the Cardinals offensive line for six seasons (1973-78). In 1977, the former University of California wide receiver was named the NFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year under St. Louis head man Don Coryell. Hanifan was on the staff of two Super Bowl-winning teams, the 1991 Washington Redskins and the 1999 St. Louis Rams.

Following his coaching career, Hanifan was hired to be the color commentator of the Rams broadcast crew. He held that job from 2004-08, before being replaced by former NFL defensive lineman D’Marco Farr. After that demotion, Hanifan accepted the role of analyst on the Rams pregame and postgame shows.

“He was a friend to so many and meant so much to our family,” Bidwill went on to say in Thursday’s statement. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all of those fortunate enough to cross paths with Jim, a true original who will never be forgotten.”