GLENDALE – Nearly two weeks have passed since the firing of head coach Jonathan Gannon, and the Arizona Cardinals are a wildcard of the direction their going at head coach. The franchise have or are going to interview over a dozen candidates, with some favorites out of the bunch. However, NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo made it clear, while many teams with vacant head coaching candidates have flexibility due to owner support, Arizona’s lack of spending could end up biting them in the end.

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort speak to the press from the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe after the decision to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5, 2026. Syndication: Arizona Republic

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Garafolo explains Cardinals main problem during search:

Garafolo believes that the Cardinals have a history of saving money when it can. Owner Michael Bidwill made it clear that his number one reasoning for firing Gannon was wins and losses. One would think that the next course of action to not save expenses to solve that solution. The past two decades of decision making doesn’t help his case.

Arizona have had five head coaches since 2006, and all of them were first-time NFL head coaches and were only coordinators. The 2004 season was the last time the franchise hired a candidate that had experience at the position, which was Dennis Green.

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill on the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Hiring an unknown commodity, like a coordinator, is a much cheaper option then looking for NFL head coach. Reports have indicated that San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is the organization’s top choice. Saleh is a former head coach with the New York Jets and is a well-trusted mind in the league. Regardless of the interest, it’ll come down to whether Bidwill will pay for Saleh in the team’s journey back to winning.

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