Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting Thursday night on Twitter that the Arizona Cardinals have decided to hire Bruce Arians as their next head coach nearly one year after the Pittsburgh Steelers decided not to retain him as their offensive coordinator.
Arians spent the 2012 season as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts after head coach Chuck Pagano had to take a leave of absence due to his battle with Leukemia.
Arians guided the Colts and rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, to an 11-5 record and they made the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Colts ultimately lost in the Wild Card round to the Baltimore Ravens with Arians hospitalized because of an illness.
Arians interviewed for the Cardinals head-coaching vacancy on Thursday and Schefter reports that he has accepted a four-year deal, with a team option for a fifth year.
The hiring of Arians by the Cardinals means that Todd Haley will remain the Steelers offensive coordinator in 2013. Haley reportedly interviewed with the Cardinals over a week ago for the head-coaching vacancy, but made high demands in order to make it worth his while to leave Pittsburgh after just one season.
Steelers team president Art Rooney II told the media just last week that he endorsed Haley returning for a second seasons as the teams offensive coordinator despite an 8-8 inaugural season.
During Arians\’ 5 years as the Steelers offensive coordinator the team was 55-25 in the regular season. They went to the Super Bowl twice, winning one of those against the Cardinals in the 2008 season.
