Since 2016, the Arizona Cardinals have finished last in the NFC West four times, posted a winning season just once, while never winning a postseason game. Conversely, their divisional foe, the Los Angeles Rams, have never come in last place, won at least nine games six times, and won seven playoff tilts, including the 2021 Super Bowl, during that stretch. Arizona had gone through four head coaches, while Los Angeles moved on from Jeff Fisher to current leadman Sean McVay in 2017. However, in an alternate reality, it would be McVay leading the Cardinals, not the Rams, to postseason success.
Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim Went to Bat for Sean McVay
According to Top Offshore Sportsbooks writer and Outreach Lead for Clickout Media Kyle Odegard:
Steve Keim was ready to hire Sean McVay as Bruce Arians’ replacement after the 2016 season. Arians stayed in Arizona one more year, and Keim says his interest helped McVay land the Rams gig at 30 years old.
Per Odegard, Steve Keim, the Arizona Cardinals GM at the time, played a significant role in a then-31-year-old Sean McVay landing the head coaching gig with the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles owner Stan Kroenke worried about McVay’s age, but Keim told the team proprietor to hire the offensive guru. Additionally, on the Arizona Football Daily podcast with Keim and former Arizona sports radio personality Mike Jurecki, the ex-front office executive reiterated that he would have hired McVay himself if not for the return of bench boss Bruce Arians in 2017.
Arians retired following the 2017 season, with the Arizona Cardinals going 8-8 and finishing third in the NFC West. Arizona moved on to Steve Wilks but fired him after a 3-13 season. As for McVay, he went 11-5 in his first season, a seven-win increase from the year before. His best coaching accomplishment came in 2021, with the Rams winning the Super Bowl after a 12-5 season.
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