In his 1993 post-season meeting with the late Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill, head coach Joe Bugel, who had just finished the season 5-3, made a plea to retain his job. Bugel argued that “commitment and organizational stability wins championships.” His appeal fell on deaf ears. He was fired, and in the years that followed, seven of his next eight successors suffered the same fate. Bruce Arians, who allegedly retired, was rumored to have been pushed out before reemerging a year later as head coach in Tampa Bay. In 36 seasons of Cardinals football in Arizona, the Bidwill family’s franchise has managed just seven winning seasons, while firing nine head coaches.
Now, a new regime, led by general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon, hopes to attach their career aspirations to the Bidwill-owned Arizona Cardinals. With only 32 NFL head coaching jobs available, the opportunity is understandably coveted. Early reports suggest positive strides in player buy-in, roster construction, and overall scheme. However, the organization’s long-standing lack of commitment to winning remains glaringly apparent.
Take, for instance, the defense. While the offense, led by a sixth-year franchise quarterback, looks playoff-ready, the defense remains a glaring weakness despite the team having nearly $25 million in cap space available to make improvements.
The Cardinals’ defensive performance in 2023 was abysmal—ranking last in rushing defense, third-down defense, and scoring defense. The only saving grace was an average ranking in passing defense, which kept their overall defensive rating from finishing dead last. But why pass when you can run at will? That was the approach teams took, and it worked. So, what did the Cardinals do about it? Very little.
In the offseason, they made modest moves, drafting defensive tackle Darius Robinson in the first round and signing four average players—Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols, Mack Wilson Sr., and Sean Murphy-Bunting—to fill starting roles. None of these players are true difference-makers. With over $80 million in cap space next year, on top of this year’s surplus, they had the opportunity to sign a game-changer. Haason Reddick, an elite pass rusher and former Cardinal is still available. The cost to acquire him would likely be a third-round pick—the same draft capital they used on this year’s backup left guard.
Joe Bugel was not a successful head coach, but as a new Arizona football fan in 1993, I remember being surprised and disappointed by his firing, especially after his comments about commitment and organizational stability. Those words still resonate today. While I’ll be cheering for my Cardinals this year, my excitement is tempered by the sobering reality that the one constant over 37 years of Arizona Cardinals football remains: the Bidwill family and their persistent lack of commitment to winning and organizational
stability.
