What Ossenfort’s hiring means for Arizona Cardinals coaching search?
By Sion Fawkes
Yesterday, the Arizona Cardinals hired Monti Ossenfort to succeed Steve Keim as general manager. What does this mean for their coaching search?
The Arizona Cardinals have their general manager, so of course, Monti Ossenfort will aid in owner Michael Bidwill’s quest to find the ideal head coach. Several names have popped up over the last few weeks, and Brian Flores may now be the most notable.
Ossenfort and Flores were together in New England, so the pair know one another well. And Flores will get his chance, as the Cardinals requested an interview with the former Miami Dolphins head coach. But there could be other takers as well, like Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.
Arizona Cardinals coaching search may favor Brian Flores
Ossenfort and Flores worked alongside one another as scouts in 2006 and 2007, before the latter entered the coaching realm in 2008. Their experience working together as executives is yet another reason it shouldn’t surprise if the Cardinals hired Flores thanks to Ossenfort’s presence.
But it’s not just the duo’s familiarity with one another. Flores is also a good coach, having compiled a 24-18 record as head coach of the Miami Dolphins following his 0-7 start in 2019, giving him an overall record of 24-25.
Flores has emerged as a favorite over the past 24 hours. And while he’s not incredibly high on my own list of coaching candidates, hiring the coach would make a ton of sense. In his three years in Miami, Flores had two winning seasons, despite never making the playoffs. In 2020 and 2021, his defenses allowed 21.1 and 21.9 points per game, which ranked in the top half of the NFL.
So yeah, while the Cardinals could roll with the who you’re familiar with/who you know card with Ossenfort’s presence, hiring Flores isn’t as bad of an idea as one may think. He showed he can be a head coach in this league, he has experience, and both he and Ossenfort were part of a dynasty over in New England.
Related Story. Arizona Cardinals get it right with Monti Ossenfort. light
This isn’t an endorsement to bring Flores to the desert. But it does show that if Ossenfort were to convince Bidwill to go the Brian Flores route, it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Article Source: Arizona Cardinals updates, speculation: DeMeco Ryans’ stock rises as head coach candidate by Jeremy Cluff, José M. Romero, and Bob McManaman
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