Arizona Cardinals Team

Pete Kwiatkowski (quit-COW-ski) was hired as Arizona's defensive line coach on 2/20/26 after spending the past five seasons (2021-25) as the defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach at the University of Texas.

Kwiatkowski came to Arizona with 38 years of coaching experience at the college level, including 23 years as a defensive coordinator with five different programs (Texas, Washington, Boise State, Montana State and Snow College). His coaching career began in 1988 following a four-year run (1984-87) as an All-American defensive lineman at Boise State where he was later inducted in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. In his time serving as the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington, Kwiatkowski coached Cardinals eight-time Pro Bowl S Budda Baker.

Pete Kwiatkowski (quit-COW-ski) was hired as Arizona's defensive line coach on 2/20/26 after spending the past five seasons (2021-25) as the defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach at the University of Texas.

Kwiatkowski came to Arizona with 38 years of coaching experience at the college level, including 23 years as a defensive coordinator with five different programs (Texas, Washington, Boise State, Montana State and Snow College). His coaching career began in 1988 following a four-year run (1984-87) as an All-American defensive lineman at Boise State where he was later inducted in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. In his time serving as the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington, Kwiatkowski coached Cardinals eight-time Pro Bowl S Budda Baker. 

During his time as a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at the college level, 17 different defensive linemen mentored by Kwiatkowski went on to be selected in the NFL Draft. That group includes four who were drafted in the first round: Byron Murphy II, Vita Vea, Danny Shelton and Shea McClellin.

In the past five years at Texas, Kwiatkowski was a 2024 finalist and 2023 semifinalist for the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach. He helped a Longhorns program that went from five wins in his first season in 2021 to three consecutive 10-win seasons (2023-25) in which they posted a 35-8 record and ended the year as one of the top-15 teams in the nation.

In 2024, when Texas was 13-3 and made the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, Kwiatkowski was a finalist for the Broyles Award after he helped the Longhorns rank 3^rd in the FBS in scoring defense (15.3 ppg) and total defense with an SEC-best 283.4 yards allowed per game. They also forced an SEC leading 31 turnovers (2^nd FBS) including an FBS-best 22 INTs and nearly three sacks (2.88/15^th FBS) per game. Four defensive players garnered All-America honors (DB Jahdae Barron, DT Alfred Collins, LB Anthony Hill Jr. and DB Michael Taaffe). Barron won the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, along with being UT's first-ever defensive back to be a Nagurski Award finalist.

A 2023 Broyles Award semifinalist, Kwiatkowski led a defensive unit that season that featured Outland Trophy winner and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year T'Vondre Sweat and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Byron Murphy II. The Texas defense held opponents to 82.4 rushing yards per game (3^rd in the NCAA), allowing fewer than 100 yards rushing by eight opponents. The defense also featured Butkus Award semifinalist Jaylan Ford and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist Jahdae Barron, who helped the Horns rank 2^nd in the nation in third-down defense (26.6 percent) and 7^th in red zone defense (73.8 percent).

In 2022, the Longhorn defense featured the All-American Ford and 10 all-conference honorees, including first-team selections Ford and LB DeMarvion Overshown and second-team defensive linemen Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo. UT finished 12^th in defensive TDs (3), 25^th in red zone defense (.780) and 27^th in the nation in scoring defense (21.6 ppg).

Kwiatkowski joined the Longhorns following seven seasons at Washington (2014-20) in a stretch that saw the Huskies post a 58-27 record, make six bowl appearances and post three 10-win seasons while appearing in the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl. From 2015-19, the Huskies ranked no lower than 13^th nationally in scoring defense, including 5^th from 2017-19 and 8^th in 2016. During Kwiatkowski's seven seasons at Washington, 17 members of the Husky defense were selected in the NFL Draft, including 10 in the first two rounds. Between 2015-18, his Washington defenses led the Pac-12 in both scoring and total defense for four consecutive seasons.

Washington played only four games in 2020, but led the Pac-12 in total defense (346.2 ypg), including 185.0 passing yards per game that led the Pac-12 and ranked 13^th in the nation. In 2019, Washington limited opponents to just 19.4 points per game, which ranked 5^th nationally. In 2018, Kwiatkowski helped the Husky defense that led the league in both scoring (15.5 ppg) and total defense (301.8 ypg) for the fourth consecutive year. Those totals also ranked 5^th and 12^th in the nation, respectively. The Huskies, who won a Pac-12 title for the second time in three years, also finished second in the conference in rushing defense (116.1 ypg), pass defense (190.1 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (117.31). Washington posted a 10-4 record, won the Pac-12 Championship and played in the Rose Bowl.

In 2017, under the direction of Kwiatkowski, Washington again led the Pac-12 in both total defense (298.0 ypg) and scoring defense (16.1 ppg). They also led the Pac-12 in rushing defense (100.8 ypg/4^th FBS). It marked the first time the Huskies allowed under 300 total yards in back-to-back years since 1990-91. Washington went 10-3 that year, played in the Fiesta Bowl and finished ranked in the top-15. Three defensive players were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, including Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year DT Vita Vea.

Washington once again featured the Pac-12's top defense in 2016 after posting a 12-2 record, ending the season as the country's #4 ranked team which included winning the Pac-12 Championship and earning a trip to the College Football Playoff. The Huskies led the conference in both total defense (316.9 ypg, 12^th FBS) and scoring defense (17.7 points per game, 8^th FBS), while also leading all FBS schools in turnover margin (1.29 per game) and takeaways (33). Washington also led the conference in first downs allowed and third down conversion defense, while finishing 2^nd in redzone defense, rushing defense and sacks. Four Huskies (Elijah Qualls, Azeem Victor, Budda Baker and Sidney Jones) earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2016, including Baker who was a consensus All-America selection at safety.

In 2015, Kwiatkowski's defense led the Pac-12 in scoring (18.8 ppg) and total defense (351.8 ypg) and finished 2^nd in rushing defense (125.3 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (115.9). In his first year with Washington in 2014, Kwiatkowski led a UW defense that featured three AP first-team All-American selections (Hau'oli Kikaha, Danny Shelton and Shaq Thompson). Washington finished the season 2^nd in the nation in sacks, 5^th in fumble recoveries, 9^th in turnover margin and 26^th in takeaways. Additionally, Washington led the FBS with seven defensive TDs.

He spent 16 seasons overall as a member of the Boise State coaching staff – eight (2006-13) after returning to coach at his alma mater in 2006. Kwiatkowski was the defensive line coach prior to being elevated to defensive coordinator in 2010. As Boise State's defensive coordinator (2010-13), the Broncos led the Western Athletic and Mountain West Conferences in total defense and scoring defense in each of his first three seasons. In his first three seasons of guiding the defense, Boise State was one of just seven teams to rank among the nation's top 25 in total defense each year. They were 2^nd nationally in 2010, 16^th in 2011 and 12^th in 2012. In that same span, opponents averaged just 297.1 yards per game, making the Broncos one of six teams to allow less than 300 yards per game. Kwiatkowski-led defenses allowed 18.0 points per game in four seasons. The Broncos ranked second-nationally in scoring defense in 2010 (12.8 ppg), 12^th  in 2011 (18.7), 8^th in 2012 (15.8) and 50^th in 2013 (24.8).

In his final season leading Boise's defense in 2013, the unit ranked 2^nd in the conference in points allowed (24.8 ppg), 2^nd in INTs (16), 3^rd in total defense (413.4 ypg), 3^rd in pass efficiency defense (129.7) and 4^th in sacks (30). In 2012, Boise State ranked 5^th nationally in both pass defense (169.5 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (101.4), 8^th in scoring defense (15.8 ppg), 11^th in sacks (2.9) and 12^th in total defense (315.6 ypg). The Broncos also ranked 4^th forcing 36 turnovers and led the nation with 18 fumble recoveries. In 2011, the Broncos debut season in the Mountain West, Boise State ranked 12^th in scoring defense (18.7 ppg), 16^th in total defense (320.9 ypg) and 17^th in rushing defense (110.0 ypg) - leading the league in each category. Following the 2011 season six members of the Broncos defensive unit earned all-conference recognition, including each of Kwiatkowski's four starting defensive linemen.

In 2010, his debut season as defensive coordinator, the Broncos finished 2^nd in both total (254.7 ypg) and scoring defense (12.8 ppg). Boise State also led the nation in sacks (3.7 per game), ranked 2^nd in the country in tackles-for-loss (8.4) and pass efficiency defense (95.2), 4^th in pass defense (150.9) and 7^th in rushing defense (103.8) – leading the WAC in each category. Eight different players earned All-WAC recognition, five of which garnered first-team accolades.

From 2006-09, Kwiatkowski's served as defensive line coach and helped Boise State to its first two appearances in the Fiesta Bowl, both resulting in wins over Oklahoma. In 2009, the program ranked 13^th in pass efficiency (103.4 ypg), 14^th in total (300.2 ypg) and scoring defense (17.1 ppg) and 19^th in tackles for loss (19). Nationally, the Broncos finished 2008 ranked 2^nd in pass defense, 3^rd in scoring defense (12.6 ppg) and 20^th in total defense (308.2 ypg).

Prior to returning to Boise State, Kwiatkowski spent six seasons (2000-05) at Montana State as defensive coordinator. The Bobcats defense allowed a league-best 332.2 yards per game in 2005 and led the Big Sky Conference in passing defense (165.6 ypg). Montana State also led the Big Sky in total defense three other times – 2001 (358.0 ypg), 2002 (306.8 ypg) and 2003 (298.4 ypg).

Kwiatkowski began his coaching career as an assistant at Boise State following an All-American career that resulted in him being inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. His initial run with the Broncos lasted eight seasons (1988-96) as he served under three different head coaches. During that time, he coached defensive backs, outside linebackers and the defensive line.

Following the 1996 season Kwiatkowski moved to Snow College in Utah, where he was the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for one season. He then coached at Eastern Washington for two seasons (1998-99).

Kwiatkowski was a standout defensive lineman at Boise State (1984-87) and earned first-team All-American honors in 1987. He was also named honorable mention AP All-American in 1986. Kwiatkowski was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 1987, received first-team All-Big Sky honors in 1986 and 1987 and was named all-conference honorable mention as a sophomore in 1985.

Kwiatkowski, who graduated from Boise State in 1990, was inducted into the Boise State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. He and his wife Lara have three daughters, Shelby, Riley and Olivia.