Bruce Arians Signs Contract Extension with Arizona Cardinals

After winning the NFL Coach of the Year Award for the second time in three years, Bruce Arians has signed a contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals.  

Continue for updates.

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Cardinals Extend Arians Through 2018

Monday, Feb. 23

NFL Network's Albert Breer reported on Monday that Arians and general manager Steve Keim have signed contract extensions with the organization. Cardinals vice president of media relations Mark Dalton provided comments from team president Michael Bidwill:

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Arians Extension Likely on the Horizon

Wednesday, Feb. 11

In two seasons at the helm in Arizona, Arians has led the Cards to a combined record of 21-11 and one playoff appearance. He managed to go 11-5 in 2014 despite multiple significant injuries on both sides of the ball, which certainly speaks to his importance.    

The Cardinals organization is well aware of how integral he has been to the team's success, which is why a contract extension appears quite likely at this point.

Speaking on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (h/t Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk), Cardinals president Michael Bidwill revealed that the new deal will probably be completed "in the next few weeks."

Bidwill added more, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com:

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"I think it's the right thing to do, and I want to reward people that have had success and brought success to the team," Bidwill told KMVP-FM in Arizona. "I can't think of two people more deserving -- coach of the year, two times in three years, executive of the year.

"They've both done tremendous jobs, brought tremendous leadership and success to the organization and I want to be in the habit of rewarding people that bring that kind of success."

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The 62-year-old coach has an extremely impressive resume as a two-time Super Bowl winner as part of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive staff. He also helped lead the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs in 2012 as the interim head coach during Chuck Pagano's absence.

Perhaps above all else, though, Bidwill likes the fact that Arians is a straight shooter, per Arizona Sports 98.7 on Twitter:

Due to his engaging personality and ability to rally the troops in the face of adversity, Arians is among the best head coaches in football.   

His coaching is enough to make up for many of the team's shortcomings, which is why the Cards must do everything within their power to ensure that Arians will be in charge for the foreseeable future.

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