Todd Haley to Interview for Arizona Cardinals Head Coaching Job
By Matt Shetler
Now that it appears that the Arizona Cardinals won’t be able to land Andy Reid as their next head coach, it looks as if they will turn their attention to Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms that the team requested permission to speak to Haley about the Cardinals’ vacant head coaching position and NFL.com’s Albert Breer later reported that the Steelers have granted the Cardinals permission for the interview.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette later confirmed the news.
#Steelers have granted permission to #Cardinals to talk to Todd Haley about their head coaching job.
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 3, 2013
Haley has ties to the Cardinals organization, having worked as the offensive coordinator under recently fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt when Arizona lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.
December 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley reacts on the sidelines against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Cincinnati Bengals won 13 -10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
After that 2009 season, Haley took the head coaching job with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he compiled a 19-26 record in three seasons.
When he was let go last season, Haley took the offensive coordinator’s position with the Steelers, where his performance has been met with mixed reviews.
There is a good possibility that Haley is the front-runner for the Cardinals job.
Haley enjoyed a good relationship with ownership, who reportedly pushed for Whisenhunt to add Haley to the coaching staff after last season when Haley lost his head coaching gig.
He wouldn’t be getting an interview unless he was a serious candidate.
It has been reported several times that Haley would be the choice of ownership in Arizona, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the job.
If he does, could that lead to Whisenhunt returning to his former position as Steelers’ offensive coordinator?