Cardinals coach Bruce Arians yesterday announced his retirement in a "tearful press conference at the team’s Tempe facility" a day after becoming the "winningest coach in Cardinals history," according to a front-page piece by Kent Somers of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Arians "told his players of his plans" after the team's season-ending win over the Seahawks on Sunday, and none of the players "leaked the news to reporters." Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said, "We couldn’t be more grateful to him and his family for everything they’ve done. He’s left the team in a very good position." Somers notes Arians becomes the first Cardinals coach to "depart on his terms." Bidwill and GM Steve Keim will "begin the search for a replacement immediately." Arians early last year "underwent surgery to remove part of a cancerous kidney," though he recovered quickly and was "determined to be cancer free." Arians reportedly has "hired an agent familiar with television opportunities" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/2). In Phoenix, Dan Bickley writes Arians "left on his terms, with tears of joy, players that guarded his secrets and a fan base that will never forget his impact." His "oversized bravado reinforced the notion that swinging for the fences is all that matters, even when the dream ends at the warning track." Arians has "set the bar for all future head coaches in Arizona" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/2). THE MMQB's Peter King wrote Arians "was a godsend" for the Cardinals, and made the team "relevant again." But he "looked wrung out and too emotional to hide much Sunday after yet another win in Seattle" (SI.com, 1/1).
FAMILY MATTERS: Arians yesterday called his five years with the Cardinals a "great ride." He said that an "eye opener came over the summer when his wife told him his son, Jake, was soon to turn 40." Arians: "It hit me like a ton of bricks, that I missed all that time" (AP, 1/1). He added, "My wife is a real trooper for what she's gone through as a head coach's wife, and she had enough. And I had enough." He said he will not be "totally retired," noting the potential of starting a "new career" in the media. Arians: "I know that I don't want to be a consultant or any of those types of things" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 1/2). Arians in a special to THE ATHLETIC wrote, "Something just changed for me this year -- it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what that was, hard to put into words -- and I wasn’t enjoying the game as much as I had in the past. This wasn’t fair to my players, my coaches or the fans. So I informed Michael that this would be my final year of coaching." He added, "I’ve been on the fence about this decision up until just a few hours ago, my heart and my head battling over what the right move is. ... But as I weighed my decision, my thoughts kept returning to my family" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/1). ESPN's Louis Riddick said being an NFL coach "comes with great sacrifice." Riddick: "Bruce decided, 'I don't want to make that sacrifice anymore.' So hats off to him" ("NFL Live," ESPN2, 1/1).
SHOW OF RESPECT: NFL Network's Peter Schrager noted there was not a leak from the players about Arians' plans "because everyone loves Bruce Arians." Schrager: "In a day in age when a player sneezes and there's a tweet about it, Bruce Arians announces his retirement Sunday night ... and not a single people told his agent, tweeted, said a word. I love that" ("Good Morning Football," NFL Network, 1/2).
