The NFL’s ‘Black Monday’ has claimed its first victim: Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
The 43-year-old was let go along with general manager Steve Keim following the team’s dreadful 4-13 campaign, which was exacerbated by quarterback Kyler Murray’s torn ACL in his left knee. Keim took indefinite leave from the team last month for ‘health reasons,’ but will no longer be returning to the club in Glendale, Arizona.
The Cardinals will now try to regroup, while Murray’s recovery timeline remains indefinite.
Cliff Kingsbury (right) was let go along with general manager Steve Keim (left) following the team’s dreadful 4-13 campaign, which was exacerbated by quarterback Kyler Murray’s torn ACL in his left knee. Keim took indefinite leave from the team last month for ‘health reasons,’ but will no longer be returning to the club in Glendale, Arizona
Kingsbury was the first coach fired on Black Monday – the day following the regular-season finales – but the Houston Texans beat the Cardinals to the punch on Sunday night by announcing coach Lovie Smith’s dismissal.
It was a disappointing season for the Cardinals on a number of fronts.
There was future Hall of Famer JJ Watt’s surprise retirement and major injuries to Murray – the team’s franchise quarterback and one of the NFL’s highest-paid players – not to mention receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Offensive line coach Sean Kugler was fired over allegations that he groped a woman during the team’s road trip to Mexico City, although he claims this is a case of ‘miscommunication or mistaken identity.’ Kugler has retained a law firm for an arbitration hearing on his behalf as he continues to deny the allegations against him.
And then there is the curious case of Keim, who took his mysterious absence from the team in mid-December, never to return.
Murray also had several sideline spats with Kingsbury, and once described the team’s offense as ‘schematically F***ED’ following a brutal November loss.
As initially feared, the Arizona Cardinals quarterback did tear the ACL in his left knee on a non-contact play in last month’s loss to the visiting New England Patriots
The season began on a positive note, with Murray agreeing to stay in Arizona for the long term.
The former Heisman winner and top-overall draft pick signed a five-year, $230 million contract extension with the team prior to the season, which includes $160 million in guarantees.
But the contract raised eyebrows due to a ‘homework clause,’ that was first revealed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport in August. The ‘independent study addendum’ required Murray to review four hours of game film per week throughout the season. Failing to comply would result in Murray being deemed to ‘be in Default,’ according to the contract language.
After an uproar over the revelation, the team eliminated the clause from his contract.
As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport revealed Monday, the former Heisman winner’s new five-year, $230 million deal includes an ‘independent study addendum’ requiring him to review four hours of game film per week throughout the season. Failing to comply would result in Murray being deemed to ‘be in Default,’ according to the contract language
Murray was never accused publicly of failing to prepare for opponents – a process that typically involves a significant amount of film study. Some quarterbacks not only watch the game film, but also help produce individual versions designed for specific teammates, reflecting their individual assignments.
However, an old quote of Murray’s from a 2021 New York Times profile may be revealing: ‘I think I was blessed with the cognitive skills to just go out there and just see it before it happens. I’m not one of those guys that’s going to sit there and kill myself watching film. I don’t sit there for 24 hours and break down this team and that team and watch every game because, in my head, I see so much.’
In any case, Murray remains entrenched as the Cardinals’ quarterback, that is, whenever he recovers from his major knee surgery.
As for Kingsbury, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said he expects the former Texas Tech quarterback to get other chances to succeed in the NFL.
However, his track record at both the college and pro levels is troubling, given his teams’ reputation for dying over the course of the year.
Over four years in Arizona and six more at Texas Tech, Kingsbury’s teams are 45-24-1 over the first seven games of the season, but just 18-54 the rest of the way.
As for Kingsbury, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said he expects the former Texas Tech quarterback to get other chances to succeed in the NFL. However, his track record at both the college and pro levels is troubling, given his teams’ reputation for dying over the course of the year. Over four years in Arizona and six more at Texas Tech, Kingsbury’s teams are 45-24-1 over the first seven games of the season, but just 18-54 the rest of the way
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