General Manager Steve Keim (right) and team president Michael Bidwill are moving closer to finding a new coach.
The NFL's championship games did the Cardinals no favors Sunday when it comes to freeing up potential head coaching candidates.
The Cardinals already held second interviews last week with Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong. Current Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher is another candidate.
But with the Patriots and Eagles advancing to the Super Bowl, the Cardinals now have a week to have a second interview with Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores, Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo or Eagles defensive
coordinator Jim Schwartz, if they choose.
The timing of any of those would have to be scheduled with the candidate as well as his current team, given prep work that now starts. Any interview has to be completed by Jan. 29.
ESPN reported Sunday morning the Cardinals did want to interview Flores again (and that, if Flores were to get the job, former Lions coach Jim Caldwell would be his offensive coordinator.) NFL Network reported the Cards are expected to interview Flores and DeFilippo.
The Cards are the last team with a vacancy not to settle on a new head coach, given various reports. The Titans hired Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel over the weekend, while Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shumur is expected to be named the Giants' new coach soon now that Minnesota is eliminated. The Raiders already hired Jon Gruden and the Bears hired Matt Nagy.
Meanwhile, the Lions and Colts will wait until after the Super Bowl for their coaches, both of whom are reported to be the Patriots' top assistants – defensive coordinator Matt Patricia for the Lions and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for the Colts.
