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Arizona Cardinals: NFL’s latest reminder to teams may save Kliff, Keim

By Sion Fawkes

Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury jogs off the field after losing 27-13 to the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury jogs off the field after losing 27-13 to the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim have taken a lot of scrutiny in 2022 for the Arizona Cardinals 4-9 record, with many calls to fire the duo. 

The NFL just released a staggering number during a December owners meeting, and one that may save Kliff Kingsbury’s and if he is healthy enough to return, Steve Keim’s jobs. Over the past five seasons, NFL teams have thrown away over $800 million in head coach and front office turnover, and the league is not happy about it.

This number reached $800 million because fired coaches and front office executives still get paid for the remaining years on their contract. So if a coach signs a five-year agreement but they get fired after just two seasons, NFL franchises are still obligated to pay that coach for the remaining years on their contract.

Suppose two coaches sign five-year deals and are fired after a combined four seasons. An NFL team would have three head coaches on their payroll. This is a situation the New York Giants find themselves in, as they are still paying Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge, along with incumbent Brian Daboll.

Arizona Cardinals less likely to fire Kliff, Keim, after NFL’s revealing

Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim both signed extensions that will keep them on the payroll until 2027. If the Cardinals fire this duo, they will be obligated to pay their respective contracts between 2023 and 2027 with another head coach and a potential general manager on the payroll.

Now that the NFL has revealed the staggering number that could easily reach the $1 billion mark following the regular season, Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill may hesitant to fire the duo with five years to go on their respective contracts.

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Not that he wouldn’t make a move, but the likelihood of him doing so will certainly backtrack. We will find out what Bidwill ultimately decides to do less than one month from today. If he indeed cuts Kingsbury and Keim loose, then at the very least, Bidwill must hit a ringer for his next coaching and possible general manager hire.

Article Source: Sources: NFL teams spent $800M on fired coaches, execs over last 5 years by Adam Schefter 

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