The Arizona Cardinals fired coach Kliff Kingsbury in a move that had been "speculated about for months," while GM Steve Keim, who has been on a medical leave of absence since mid-December, has "decided to step away from his position to focus on his health." The end of Kingsbury’s four-year tenure comes less than a year after team owner Michael Bidwill "extended his fully guaranteed contract through the 2027 season," meaning Kingsbury can expect to "receive a hefty golden parachute if he doesn’t land a job elsewhere." Bidwill awarded both Kingsbury and Keim contract extensions last March in moves that, "at the time, seemed to indicate neither man would be going anywhere anytime soon." This season, which saw the Cardinals finish at 4-13, followed a "dizzying offseason full of drama, dysfunction, and plenty of off-the-field distractions" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/9).
