Why did the Cardinals suddenly fire offensive line coach Sean Kuger in Mexico City?
With details still emerging, the reason behind Kugler’s sudden dismissal in Mexico City is still to be determined, but we do know it’s not related to the Cardinals’ on-field struggles.
Though there has been intense speculation surrounding the job security of the Cardinals head coach, it was actually the team’s assistant coach who was dismissed from his post following an ‘incident’ in Mexico City.
Cardinals fire assistant coach Sean Kugler but give no explanation
According to comments made by Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the franchise has relieved offensive line coach/running game coordinator Sean Kugler of his duties, ahead of their Week 12 game against the San Francisco 49ers. It is understood, that the decision to fire Kugler was taken as a result of an incident which occurred in Mexico City on Sunday. There have been no further details released about what happened or why. “We relieved him of his duties, and he was sent home Monday morning prior to the game,” Kingsbury said. “It’s challenging anytime you make a staff change in that type of manner.”
Sean Kugler’s dismissal was because of an off-field incident. Not connected to the Cardinals’ poor play.
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) November 22, 2022
The Cardinals are in a bind
Now sitting on a 4-7 record, the Cardinals we’re in in Mexico for the NFL International Series in which they played against and lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 38-10, on “Monday Night Football.” With that the pressure is now truly on for coach Kingsbury who is now truly in the hot seat. Yet, it appears that the team’s performance is not at the center of Kugler’s dismissal. Before joining the Cardinals, the 56-year-old offensive line coach had seen time with a number of teams including the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and of course the Detroit Lions with whom he started as a tight ends coach back in 2001. As mentioned by Kingsbury, midseason staff changes are not ideal, leaving the question of how will this affect the team as they attempt to save their failing campaign?