Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Caldwell was previously unlinked to the Arizona job opening but has put together a busy schedule of interviews this week. He has also already met with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, while the New York Jets have interest in garnering a sit-down with the veteran head coach, according to Schefter.
Caldwell so far holds the most NFL experience among candidates to replace Cardinals coach Steve Wilks, who was fired Monday after leading Arizona to a 3-13 record in his first year on the job.
Arizona already interviewed former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase on Wednesday, reported Schefter. The team is scheduled to meet Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor and New Orleans Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell on Saturday, according to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.
USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is also expected to meet with the Cardinals, reported Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson.
Caldwell, 63, coached the Colts from 2009-2011 and then the Lions from 2014-17. He had two losing seasons in his seven years as head coach and holds a 62-50 record between the two teams.
He has an offensive background with quarterbacks assistant coaching duties with Penn State (1986-1992), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001), the Colts (2002-08) and the Ravens (2012-13).
In college, Caldwell played defensive back at Iowa and in 1977 became a graduate assistant. His coaching career, however, began on the offensive side of the ball as wide receivers coach for Southern Illinois. He had pit-stops in Northwestern, Colorado, Louisville and Penn State before taking over at Wake Forest as head coach from 1993-2000. Then, he made the jump to the NFL.
