Jan. 13, 2026, 10:08 p.m. MT
The Arizona Cardinals now have a full dozen candidates that are known that they have initial interest in considering to be their next head coach, replacing Jonathan Gannon, whom they fired after they went 3-14 this past season. The latest candidate is one who used to be on Kliff Kingsbury’s staff in 2022.
That would be Houston Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Cardinals have requested to interview Burke.
Burke has been the Texans’ defensive coordinator under head coach DeMeco Ryans for three seasons, and the Texans had the league’s No. 1 defense in points allowed and No. 2 defense in yards allowed.
He has been with a lot of teams since he began coaching in the NFL in 2004 and has worked with a lot of different coaches.
Matt Burke’s coaching career
He was with the Tennessee Titans from 2004-2008 when Jeff Fisher was head coach as an administrative assistant and then defensive quality control coach. Jim Schwartz was defensive coordinator.
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From 2009-2013 he was the linebackers coach for the Detroit Lions when Schwartz was head coach.
In 2014-2015, he was linebackers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals with head coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was on that staff as defensive backs coach.
From 2016-2018, he was on the Miami Dolphins’ staff as linebackers coach for a season. Adam Gase was head coach and Joseph was defensive coordinator. When Joseph became the Broncos’ head coach in 2017, Burke became defensive coordinator for Miami.
Burke then spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019-2020 when Schwartz was their defensive coordinator. He was a special assistant and then run-game coordinator and defensive line coach.
He became the game management coach in 2021 with the New York Jets when Robert Saleh was head coach.
He was the defensive line coach for the Cardinals in 2022 when Joseph was the defensive coordinator, and then, after Kingsbury and his staff were let go, he joined Ryans in Houston.
Who are candidates to replace Jonathan Gannon?
These are the 12 candidates the Cardinals have either interviewed or requested to interview.
Denver Broncos DC Vance JosephMiami Dolphins DC Anthony WeaverKansas City Chiefs OC Matt NagySan Francisco 49ers DC Robert SalehSeattle Seahawks OC Klint KubiakFormer Atlanta Falcons HC Raheem MorrisNew England Patriots passing game coordinator/tight ends coach Thomas BrownGreen Bay Packers DC Jeff HafleyLos Angeles Rams OC Mike LaFleurLos Angeles Rams DC Chris ShulaHouston Texans DC Matt BurkeLos Angeles Chargers DC Jesse Minter
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