Todd Bowles, Cardinals Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Reaction, Analysis

The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly signed defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to a contract extension that runs through the 2017 campaign. The new deal includes a pay hike.

Pro Football Talk broke the news:

ESPN's Adam Schefter added some financial details:

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The deal makes Bowles one of the five highest-paid assistant coaches in the NFL and proves Arizona is willing to spare no expense to keep its talent.

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Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com provides Bowles' take on the extension:

The last note is interesting because Bowles figured to become one of the most coveted assistants in the league once head coaching jobs started to open up. The extension won't prevent him from making the jump, but the Cardinals probably hope it gets him to think twice before taking another job.

Arizona's defense, which ranks fourth in the league in points allowed at under 19 per game, has been a major reason for its success so far. The Cardinals are leading the vaunted NFC West by two games at 8-1, a record good enough to lead the entire NFL.

So it made sense to extend Bowles with the possibility of coaching changes on the horizon for the second half of the season. He's played a key role in turning the team into an unexpected championship contender this year.