If Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and his coaching staff hoped some time off would ease mounting frustrations from ownership, it didn’t help. More than a week after an ugly playoff loss, the heat seems to be turned up even higher in the desert.
The Cardinals started the season 7-0 and went into the Week 12 bye with a stellar 9-2 record. Sitting atop the NFC West with a great shot at earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, Arizona collapsed. Even with Kyler Murray healthy, Kingsbury’s team dropped four of its last five regular-season games and finished 11-6.
Given a shot at redemption in the Wild Card round, the Los Angeles Rams steamrolled Arizona 34-11. Tensions have been high ever since with team owner Michael Bidwill unhappy and Kingsbury squarely on the hot seat.
Now, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, Cardinals’ ownership remains displeased with the team’s collapse at the end of the season. The frustration is reportedly so strong that Arizona’s coaching staff still hasn’t received their playoff bonuses.
Frustration is understandable from ownership, players and the fan base. Arizona started hot in 2021 with a 5-2 record then faded after the bye, finishing 8-8. Second-half collapses have become a trend during Kingsbury’s coaching career both with the Cardinals and at Texas Tech.
- Arizona Cardinals value: $2.65 billion
But if the report is true that ownership still hasn’t paid the coaching staff its bonuses, that creates a new problem. The Cardinals have reached the postseason just twice since 2010 and their playoff berth this season was the first since 2015. While the season ended on a rough note, those playoff bonuses were earned by the coaches.
There would be understanding from the NFL world if Kingsbury was fired, with Arizona taking advantage of a great pool of NFL coaching candidates. But keeping the entire coaching staff and their families in limbo, all while not paying them the money they are owed would be a terrible look for the organization. Even worse, if Kingsbury is fired, it would be remembered by coaches around the league.
Importantly, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Cardinals are emphatically denying La Canfora’s report. Arizona’s coaches will “absolutely” receive their bonuses and they are in the process of issuing the checks, per PFT.