The NFL's annual coaching carousel continued on Monday, with some vacancies appearing to have been filled, but there remains one question that is no closer to being answered than it was when all these jobs opened up: Who will be the next coach of the Arizona Cardinals?
Reportedly, the New York Giants will land Pat Shurmur, the Indianapolis Colts are set to hire Josh McDaniels, and the Detroit Lions are getting Matt Patricia, and now the Tennessee Titans will be competing for top candidates.
The Cardinals have conducted one of the widest coaching searches in the league this offseason, reportedly considering nine candidates, though Shurmur and Patricia are already off the board. Here is a look at the nine most-likely candidates to be named as Bruce Arians successor.
Immediate Options
Steve Wilks
Current position: Panthers defensive coordinator
The Panthers' playoff loss puts Wilks in solid contention because that makes him available for hire right away.
The Carolina defensive coordinator has worked under two-time Coach of the Year Ron Rivera the past six seasons and performed marvelously as DC after Sean McDermott departed last offseason. Wilks, who has already interviewed once in Arizona, has taken on the duties of assistant head coach since 2015 and was also considered a candidate to coach the Giants.
Mike Munchak
Current position: Steelers offensive line coach
Munchak is also ready to move in right away following the Steelers' playoff exit Sunday, provided he isn't too tempted to follow his staff to the Pro Bowl in Orlando.
The former Titans head coach has a similar background to Arians, who retired following the season, as a member of Mike Tomlin's staff in Pittsburgh. Arians was Tomlin's offensive coordinator from 2007-11.
Keith Armstrong
Current position: Falcons special teams coordinator
Armstrong isn't a well-known name or someone other teams have reportedly considered for their head coach job, but the 54-year-old managed to get an interview last Monday. He's been focused solely on special teams since 1997, having worked the same position in Atlanta the last 10 years.
The one tie he has to the Cardinals is his playing time under Arians in college at Temple in the mid-'80s.
James Bettcher
Current position: Cardinals defensive coordinator
Bettcher, 39, had been with Arians for his entire NFL coaching career, starting with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, and spending the last three years leading the Arizona defense. Arians has vouched for Bettcher to Cardinals ownership, but despite his in-house candidacy, it would seemingly be a risk to hire someone of such limited experience.
Wait it out
Jim Schwartz
Current position: Eagles defensive coordinator
Eagles fans should be thanking Schwartz over everyone for keeping their team alive in the playoffs. The former Lions head coach has his defense buzzing and in the best scheme every week. With the wealth of versatile talent on the defensive side of the ball in Arizona, it is worth waiting for whenever the Eagles' season ends to land this defensive specialist.
John DeFilippo
Current position: Eagles quarterbacks coach
DeFilippo has been hailed as this year's version of Sean McVay - young, great with quarterbacks, and diversity of experience under his belt already. Like Schwartz, the Cardinals will need to sit tight until the Eagles are done or headed to the Super Bowl to move forward with another DeFilippo interview. If they are planning to draft the next franchise passer this spring, DeFilippo will be hard to pass up.
Brian Flores
Current position: Patriots linebackers coach
With McDaniels and Patricia set to leave, Flores is getting a promotion somewhere, but it's unclear where. If he doesn't end up as the Patriots' DC or running the defense for one of New England's departing assistants, it may be as Arizona's head coach.
Flores is well versed in the "Patriot Way," having started his career as a New England scouting assistant before moving to the coaching staff in 2008. The 36-year-old's three Super Bowl rings and resume under Bill Belichick makes him an attractive lesser-known option.
Others to consider
Dave Toub
Current position: Chiefs special teams coordinator
Given his reputation as a prospective head coach and one of the best, most-consistent special teams coordinators in the league, it's surprising Toub has not already been linked to the Cardinals.
Toub was rumored to be one of the favorites for the Colts job and has been considered for a head coach position since 2011. His special teams background makes him more a balanced coach who could spread focus around all three phases of the game instead of focusing on one side of the ball.
Dennis Allen
Current position: Saints defensive coordinator
The Cardinals have built up a fairly impressive defensive roster in terms of talent through the draft the last few years, but have struggled to get everyone on the same page.
Allen just took the Saints' defense out of the basement last season by relying heavily on the play of many young defenders with a few key veterans providing leadership. He has some experience as a head coach and has had the benefit of working under Sean Payton since 2015.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
