Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill preached patience and promised to do his do diligence before naming Ken Whisenhunt’s successor.
Eighteen days and a handful of interviews later it appears he and the organization found their match in former Indianapolis Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians who was introduced to the media Friday afternoon at the team’s Tempe headquarters.
“I don’t mind showing emotion,” the passionate Arians said. “I see it as a sign of strength, not weakness. I live as hard and fast as I can. I never lay up. I hit a lot of balls in the water. That’s the way I coach and that’s the way I live.”
Arians led the Colts to a 9-3 record as interim head coach this past season during Chuck Pagano’s absence while being treated for leukemia. The nine victories ties an NFL record for single season wins by an interim head coach.
“The Indianapolis Colts are a great, great organization,” Arians explained Friday. “I truly believe this is the right fit for me. After meeting with [General Manager] Steve [Keim] and Michael…we can get this done.
One of the most important things that needs to get done this season is find a solution for the Red Birds woeful offense. Arians comes to Arizona with a great quarterback coaching pedigree which includes Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and most recently Colts rookie sensation Andrew Luck.
Bidwill said the Cards organization was impressed with how Arians stepped in under an adverse situation last year in Indianapolis.
“He did an outstanding job. In many ways you saw what he could do. Just looking at it you knew that there was something really special there.”
Arians said during the press conference he has already spoken with two cornerstones on the Cardinals roster; cornerback Patrick Peterson and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
The 60-year old has been an NFL assistant for 20 years. He signed a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth.
