Kingsbury reduced Kugler’s role in offensive game planning prior to what happened in Mexico City leading to his firing.
The Arizona Cardinals dismissed offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Sean Kugler the morning before they played the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City. He allegedly groped a woman.
Kugler is disputing the allegations and seeking arbitration for his termination.
However, according to a report by ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss and Jeremy Fowler, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury wanted to fire him well before the events in Mexico.
Kugler suddenly lost opportunities to contribute to offensive planning meetings months ago, according to a source close to Kugler, but the belief from multiple Cardinals sources was that Bidwill didn’t want to pay Kugler’s contract buyout.
Kugler’s role has increased since his start on the coaching staff. Kingsbury gave him a lot of input in the running game and he was given a promotion this year to hold the title of run-game coordinator.
It would appear that there has been more conflict and unhappiness within the organization than has been let on.
The Arizona Cardinals fired offensive line coach and run-game coordinator prior to their game in Mexico City against the San Francisco 49ers. He allegedly groped a female the night before the game.
Kugler has filed for arbitration with the league citing multiple claims against the Cardinals and suggested mistaken or uncertain identity in his situation.
According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, “there was absolutely no mistaken or uncertain identity in the Mexico City incident with Kugler. Kugler was clearly and positively identified — including on hotel video and by eyewitnesses.”
The Cardinals issued a statement that said they were confident that it will be known that the firing was warranted.
The Cardinals are confident in their decision to fire Kugler after he allegedly groped a woman in Mexico.
The Arizona Cardinals fired offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Sean Kugler in Mexico before the team played the San Francisco 49ers, after he allegedly groped a woman the night before. This week, Kugler is contesting the firing, seeking arbitration, citing multiple claims against the Cardinals for his dismissal.
He denies the event happened and suggests there is either miscommunication or mistaken identity.
However, the Cardinals released s statement on the subject, showing confidence in the firing.
As an ongoing legal matter, we are going to refrain from comment other than to say that the team is confident the process will result in a much different set of facts than those presented today and that it had good cause to terminate Mr. Kugler’s employment.
We will see in the weeks to come what comes of this story.
Offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Sean Kugler was relieved of his duties Monday morning before the Cardinals played the 49ers.
The Arizona Cardinals have yet another controversy to deal with this year. This involves a coach. The team fired offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Sean Kugler before Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told AZCentral Sports’ Bob McManaman.
The decision came after an incident Sunday night in Mexico City. Kugler did not coach in the game.
“We relieved him of his duties, and he was sent home Monday morning prior to the game,” Kingsbury said. He did not give details but did say the move is permanent.
Assistant offensive line coach Brian Natkins will get help from Steve Heiden to coach the offensive line the rest of the season. Heiden has been the tight ends coach. Offensive assistant Mike Bercovici will now coach the tight ends.
In his press conference Tuesday, Kingsbury said he didn’t have to make any coaching changes, but ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss noted that Kugler had already been removed from coaching staff on the team website.
Kugler is the second coach on Arizona’s staff to leave. Running backs coach James Saxon was placed on administrative leave and then resigned after dealing with charges in the offseason in Indiana.
Between the offseason drama they had with Kyler Murray and the play on the field this season, it has been a rough season for the Cardinals in 2022.
The Cardinals dismissed assistant coach Sean Kugler after an incident in Mexico City
The Arizona Cardinals were minus one offensive assistant coach Monday night when they were clobbered by the San Francisco 49ers, 38-10.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury told the Arizona Republic Tuesday that he fired running game coordinator and chief offensive line coach Sean Kugler after an incident Sunday night in Mexico City, where the game took place.
“We relieved him of his duties, and he was sent home Monday morning prior to the game,” Kingsbury said.
Kingsbury said the move is permanent, meaning Kugler is no longer an employee of the team. He was part of Kingsbury’s original staff with the Cardinals in 2019.
“It’s challenging anytime you make a staff change in that type of manner and I’m just going to leave it at that,” Kingsbury told The Republic.
… Kugler’s duties will now be shared by assistant offensive line coach Brian Natkin and tight ends coach Steve Heiden, who both handled the job during Monday’s game. Offensive assistant Mike Bercovici will temporarily replace Heiden as tight ends coach.
Cardinals RT Kelvin Beachum talked about Chris Banjo, Sean Kugler, Ramon Foster, Junior Galette and more in his AMA on Reddit recently.
Arizona Cardinals starting right tackle Kelvin Beachum participated in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) recently. He answered questions about a number of things. Some were not that serious. Others were worth reading.
By the way, he doesn’t have any more insight about the future of receiver Larry Fitzgerald than we do.
Below are a few of the things we learn in the AMA.
Offensive line coach Sean Kugler is bullish on the future of their 2020 third-round pick.
The Arizona Cardinals were thrilled to be able to selected tackle Josh Jones in the third round of last year’s NFL draft. Some projected him to be selected in the first round and head coach Kliff Kingsbury even said after the draft that he had to call Jones’ college head coach to check if Jones had killed somebody or something, causing his fall in the draft.
Some believed he could compete for the starting right tackle job. He ended up as a reserve, getting a few snaps on offense as an extra blocker in some running plays late in the year.
He played exclusively left tackle in college. He practiced at right tackle last year. He might be changing positions again.
“We’re very excited about him,” said offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler of Jones when he spoke with the media last week. “He offers positional flexibility. He can play tackle, he can play guard. We’ll see where that goes when we get into the offseason.”
It was the first mention of his being able to play more than just tackle since he was drafted and it was an unprovoked tidbit Kugler revealed.
What does it mean? It sounds like they want to find a place for him on the line in 2021 and maybe it won’t be tackle. 2020 starting right tackle Kelvin Beachum will be a free agent. Marcus Gilbert, who opted out of the 2020 season, is slated to return. The Cardinals have questions at guard, as J.R. Sweezy will be a free agent and there is some speculation that left guard Justin Pugh could be a cap casualty.
Justin Murray was given a contract extension last year and figures to be in the mix.
Kugler was pleased with what Jones did as a rookie.
“I thought he handled his rookie year extremely well, not only on the field but in the room,” he said. “I saw a lot of growth. He is a very talented young man who likes football.”
It sounded like from the day the Cardinals drafted him that the plan was for him to sit as a rookie. “He got his feet wet last year but he didn’t have to be pushed into a starting role,” explained Kugler. “I thought that was good.”
He said most linemen aren’t ready to start until their third or fourth season but many are already playing as a rookie or a second-year player.
Jones’ future looks bright in Arizona, whether it is at guard or at tackle.
“He’s a very good pck for us and he’s going to be an outstanding lineman for the future of the Cardinals.”
He believes both Mason Cole and Lamont Gaillard have played well and will improve but would not rule out signing someone in free agency.
As the Arizona Cardinals prepare for free agency and the NFL draft this offseason, the center position has players already on the roster. Mason Cole was the starter and Lamont Gaillard started a few games when Cole was injured.
How did they do?
According to offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler, who spoke to the media this week virtually, “the center position last year had its ups and downs.”
Cole and Gaillard “at times played extremely well, at times both those guys struggled, both being young players.”
However, Kugler was optimistic about their future.
“They’re both hard workers, they both like the game of football,” he said. “I think they’re both going to improve. They both have things that they need to improve upon. They know what those things are and they need to take the accountability of improving those things.”
With both on the roster, the Cardinals aren’t just going to stand pat.
“Will we try to add to that room or will we try to improve the competition? We’ll always do that,” he explained. “We’ll always try to look to make sure that we’ve got the best five out there and next best five ready to go, and if that means bringing somebody in, that’s not out of the possibility.”
There are some notable centers who will be free agents. The Cardinals could make a splash and sign one. Since both Cole and Gaillard can play guard as well, they could be in the mix for either guard position, depending on what they do with starting left guard Justin Pugh.
Essentially, the Cardinals are leaving all options available.
“The center position overall needs to take the next step and get better.”
If that happens, it will bring good things to the offense.
Sean Kugler’s promotion appears to be what the Cardinals will do for Kliff Kingsbury’s top offensive assistant.
The Arizona Cardinals announced some coaching changes on Monday, making two coaching promotions and one hiring. Sean Kugler was promoted from being offensive line coach, adding the title run game coordinator.
With the reported retirement of Tom Clement, who was the team’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, there has been discussion from fans and analysts about whether head coach Kliff Kingsbury would hire an offensive coordinator.
After all, even the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers now have offensive coordinators after previously not having them. Rams head coach Sean McVay added Kevin O’Connell last year and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan promoted Mike McDaniel this offseason.
However, for those hoping for Kingsbury to make someone offensive coordinator, don’t expect it.
When Clements was on staff, he was listed alongside defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers on the team’s coaching roster as coordinators. Kingsbury explained that when Clements was hired he would do many things that offensive coordinators do.
With Clements’ retirement and Kugler’s promotion, the Cardinals’ coaching roster shows him alongside Joseph and Rodgers, as he is technically a coordinator. If Kingsbury were going to add another coach to be offensive coordinator in title, he would likely have done it.
Instead, it is Kugler who is sort of the offensive coordinator like Clements was with the passing game.
Kugler will be charged with the run game, which was his role before, and Kingsbury will have his hands all over the passing game in 2021.
As for an actual OC, unless something changes, it doesn’t look like it is going to happen this year.
Sean Kugler now becomes the top offensive assistant and Shawn Jefferson replaces David Raih as receivers coach.
The Arizona Cardinals announced some moves on head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s staff. Two coaches were given promotions and another was hired.
The team announced that Shawn Jefferson was hired as receivers coach. Their last receivers coach, David Raih, reportedly will be the new offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt. Jefferson previously was receivers coach and assistant head coach for the New York Jets under Adam Gase until Gase and his staff was let go after this past season.
Offensive line coach Sean Kugler was given an additional title. He is now also the run game coordinator. He has been key in the Cardinals’ rushing attack the last two seasons and now gets the title to go with it.
Passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements reportedly is retiring. No one will gain the title of passing game coordinator but Cam Tuner, who was previously the team’s assistant quarterbacks coach, has been promoted to be the quarterbacks coach. He enters his third season on the coaching staff.
Based on how the team has laid out the coaching hierarchy on the official team site, it appears they are not planning on adding anyone with the title of offensive coordinator.
Clements was listed previously alongside special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jeff Rodgers and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Clements was much like an offensive coordinator. With Kugler’s promotion, he is listed where Clements was, showing as the top offensive assistant to head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Kingsbury will apparently do more to coordinate the passing game and Kugler will be like the offensive coordinator, handling the run game and offensive line.
