Bruce Arians: “Nothing Decided” Regarding Future With Cardinals

Update:

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians addressed the earlier report during his Tuesday press conference and specifically referred to it as “fake news“, per Kent Somers.

• According to Arians, added that “nothing has changed” with regards to his plans and he plans to sit down with his family after the Seattle game to make a decision. (Darren Urban)
• Arians added that he’ll have an answer sometime between next week and February if owner Michael Bidwill lets him take that long. (Kent Somers)

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Cardinals HC Bruce Arians tells Jarrett Bell of USA Today that there’s “nothing decided” regarding his future in Arizona.

“Never heard of the (reporter),” Arians said of the report from Pro Football Weekly. “Nothing decided.”

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Dianna Marie Russini reports that as of now, HC Bruce Arians is not stepping away from the Cardinals after the season, despite the prior report.

• Kent Somers mentions that there reports that Arians could return and others saying he’s expected to leave after the season. However, sources have told Somers that they really don’t know what Arians will do.
• According to Josh Weinfuss, the earlier the report of Arians agreeing to part ways after the season “is 100 percent not true.” Weinfuss adds that the decision whether Arians will return next year will be his to make.
• Mike Jurecki also hears that Arians hasn’t told the Cardinals of his future plans and Arizona would like to have him back next year.

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Hub Arkush of Pro Football Weekly is reporting that the Cardinals and HC Bruce Arians will “agree to part ways” next week.

According to Arkush, the health issues Arians dealt with in recent years and the possibility that the Cardinals could be headed for a rebuild that may include moving forward with a new quarterback is likely enough for him to take a hiatus from coaching.

Arkush adds that this is expected to be an amicable split and Arians won’t be fired.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and GM Steve Kiem reportedly support Arians’ decision and have no issues starting a rebuild of the franchise.

One other aspect to keep an eye on is veteran WR Larry Fitzgerald and whether he’ll be back for the 2018 season. According to Arkush, the departure of Arians would “significantly increase” the odds that Fitzgerald could call it a career.

This past weekend, Ian Rapoport reported that Keim and the team’s brass have been making preparations in case 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.

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, according to Rapoport.

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.