Bruce Arians awarded Coach of the Year Honors

For the second time in three seasons, Bruce Arians has been named the AP Coach of the Year. As fans we all believe he was the right selection, winning 11 games with four separate quarterbacks, and a plethora of injuries on all fronts. Our coach was rewarded for the work he put in with another award to go on his shelf.

Arians was named the Coach of the Year in 2012 after filling in for Chuck Pagano as the interim head coach. He lead the Colts to a 9-3 record under him, and the playoffs. Last season we all believe Arians deserved his second straight coach of the year award, helping turn a five win team, to a 10-6 record, and barely missing the playoffs. He eventually lost that award to the Panthers, Ron Rivera.

This season however, he seemed the runaway winner. After key players left in free agency, Washington was suspended, and injuries quickly piled up, the season seemed like a lost cause. But after a 3-0 start (2-0 without Carson Palmer) there was hope. The team wound up securing 11 wins, tying the most in franchise history, despite Arians having to rotate in four different quarterbacks all season.

Had it not been for the late season meltdown of the defense, and Ryan Lindley, Arians would have likely secured the most wins in Cardinals team history, and earned a first round bye. In three seasons in a head coach roll, Arians has racked up a record of 30-14.

Arians is the only coach since Dan Reeves (Giants/Falcons) and Chuck Knox (LA Rams, Bills, Seahawks) to win the award with a different team.

Congrats to coach Arians, and here is to many more!