Cardinals Making Plans If Bruce Arians Doesn’t Return, Bill O’Brien & Todd Bowles Options?

According to Ian Rapoport, Cardinals GM Steve Keim and the team’s brass have been making preparations in case HC Bruce Arians doesn’t return for the 2018 season.

As of now, Arians has declined to say whether he plans to be back for 2018 and Rapoport says that widespread assumption in the coaching community is that he’ll retire.

Sources close to Arians have told Rapoport that his health is as good as it’s been in years and that he seems energized. In fact, Arians has reportedly had discussions about potential staff changes for 2018, which could be viewed as a sign that he plans to return.

Arizona is holding out hope that Arians, WR Larry Fitzgerald and QB Carson Palmer will all return next year, but Rapoport mentions that this is considered unlikely. Of the three, Palmer is the most likely to walk away, but Fitzgerald’s status could be up in the air if there’s a new regime coming in.

If Arians moves on, Texans HC Bill O’Brien would be a top target for the Cardinals with Jets HC Todd Bowles also being on the list, assuming New York moves on.

Arians, 65, was hired by the Cardinals back in 2013 after he filled in for Colts HC Chuck Pagano while he was fighting cancer and managed to win Coach of the Year. During his five years with the Cardinals, Arians has led them to a record of 47-30-1 (60.9 percent), which includes two playoff appearances and a trip to the NFC Championship game in 2015.

We’ll have more regarding Arians’ future with the Cardinals as the news is available.