The Arizona Cardinals have added more names to their ongoing search for a new head coach. On Tuesday, the team reportedly interviewed Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Minter is one of several candidates drawing interest from multiple teams across the league.
Later that evening, reports indicated that the Cardinals also reached out to Houston Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke for an interview. Burke previously served as the defensive line coach under Vance Joseph during Kliff Kingsbury’s final season with Arizona, where he coached J.J. Watt. He now calls plays for what has been considered the top defense in the NFL. Including John Harbaugh, Burke is now the 13th candidate linked to Arizona’s coaching search.
The process is being led by general manager Monti Ossenfort and owner Michael Bidwill as they look for a new leader for the team.
In related NFL news on Tuesday, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announced he would step down after 19 seasons, creating a ninth open head coaching position in this hiring cycle. No vacancies have been filled yet. The last time there were nine openings was in 2023, which was also when Arizona last hired a new head coach.
Tomlin was a surprise pick by the Steelers in 2007 over Russ Grimm. Grimm then joined Arizona as offensive line coach under Ken Whisenhunt, who took the Cardinals to a Super Bowl appearance against Tomlin’s Steelers the following season.
The Cardinals are based in Glendale and represent the Phoenix area while competing in the NFC West division of the NFL (official website). They are recognized as the oldest continuously run professional football team in America and originated as a Chicago-based athletic club in 1898 (official website). The franchise captured NFL championships in 1925 and 1947 and won an NFC championship in 2008 (official website).
