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In the NFL, it is rare to have an entire coaching staff return from one year to the next completely intact, but it appears that at least for now that the Arizona Cardinals will be able to return all their staff in 2014 exactly the same as it was in 2013.
After being considered for head coaching positions, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles reportedly informed the Cleveland Browns that he wished for his name to be withdrawn as a candidate there. The one position that he was most mentioned with was the head coaching position for the Minnesota Vikings, but they filled that position on Wednesday when they agreed to terms with Mike Zimmer.
Bowles was apparently very high on the Vikings' list. According to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, had the team not hired Zimmer, it would have been Bowles.
This is good news for the Arizona defense, who will now not have to have a third coordinator in as many seasons.
In other news, when Ken Whisenhunt was hired by the Tennessee Titans, there was some speculation that perhaps he would try to lure Cardinals strength and conditioning coordinator John Lott to Nashville with him. However, as reported by Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean, The Titans will retain Steve Watterson, the team's strength and conditioning coach since 1986.
Unless anything else changes, which certainly is possible, especially if assistants and position coaches are offered jobs at the college level, Arizona will return all 22 coaches they had on staff in 2013.
That doesn't mean they are completely in the clear as an organization. Jason Licht, the team's VP of Player Personnel, is considered a serious candidate for the vacant general manager position for the Miami Dolphins.
