Report: Cardinals want to invite Dan Quinn for second interview
The Cardinals reportedly have at least two other candidates to meet with regarding their vacant head coaching position, but they plan to bring one they’ve already spoken to back for a second interview.
The Cardinals are flying in Cowboys defense coordinator Dan Quinn for a second interview Tuesday, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. Quinn, the Falcons’ former head coach, met with the team last weekend before Dallas lost to the 49ers in an NFC Division playoff game on Sunday.
Quinn, 52, is also a top contender for the Broncos and Colts head coaching position. He was 43-42 in six seasons as coach of the Falcons from 2015-2020 that included two postseason trips.
The Cardinals, who fired Kliff Kingsbury as coach after a 4-13 season, will reportedly meet with former Saints coach Sean Payton on Thursday. They have also requested an interview with 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, but the earliest they can interview him is Monday as the 49ers prepare for this Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the Eagles.
Report: Cardinals to interview Sean Payton for coaching job Thursday
Despite media speculation that he was either no longer interested in the job or the Cardinals had decided to go in a different direction, it appears Sean Payton will be interviewing with the team for his vacant head coaching position after all.
According to a report from Payton, the former head coach of the Saints, he is expected to meet with team owner Michael Bidwill and new general manager Monti Ossenfort on Thursday PHNX’s Howard Balzer.
Payton has already conducted interviews with the Broncos and Texans and was scheduled to meet with the Panthers on Monday. He had reportedly scheduled a second interview with the Broncos for Wednesday, but it was reportedly either canceled or postponed.
More:Arizona Cardinals coaching candidate Sean Payton is a “fan” of quarterback Kyler Murray
Bidwill fired Kliff Kingsbury as head coach a day after Arizona ended a 4-13 season. Kingsbury was 28-27-1 in his four seasons with the Cardinals and was fired despite receiving a contract extension last March that is guaranteed through the 2027 season and is valued at $30 million.
Arizona has reportedly had interviews with former Colts head coach Frank Reich, Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and Vance Joseph, who has spent the last four seasons as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator.
The team was scheduled to personally interview former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, a senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach for the Steelers, on Monday. Additionally, the Cardinals were scheduled to meet with Cowboys defense coordinator Dan Quinn during a virtual interview last weekend.
Payton would be the seventh candidate to meet with the Cardinals when the interview takes place on Thursday. With Payton still under contract with the Saints for two more years despite stepping down as coach following the 2021 season, any team that hires him must reward the Saints with trade compensation and is likely to cost at least a first-round pick up if not more.
More:Arizona Cardinals Coach Hire: Sean Payton has a history with the team, the Bidwill family
An eighth contestant, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, was scheduled to meet with the Cardinals last weekend, but he reportedly canceled that interview along with another with the Colts in anticipation of San Francisco’s NFC Divisional playoff game vs Focus on Dallas. Because the 49ers advanced to the NFC championship this Sunday against the Eagles, the earliest Ryans can be interviewed by the Cardinals is Monday. Ryans has previously interviewed the Broncos and Texans.
