Bruce Arians Winning Coach of the Year is Bittersweet

Bruce Arians, current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, did his Coach of the Year work last season for the Indianapolis Colts. Arians stepped in to the interim head coaching role after Chuck Pagano became ill with cancer, and did nothing less than rally the Colts to nine wins. As good as it was to see Arians honored, it was still difficult to see him take those accolades with him to the desert.

Arians was named the NFL Coach of the Year for his efforts last season. He was also offered to interview for several open coaching slots in the league, finally landing in the final open spot with Arizona, and being named to his first full-time head coaching position. It was not surprising that other NFL teams jumped at the chance to snatch-up Arians, but was disheartening to see him leave as well.

Bruce Arians was right at the center of one of the most inspirational and surprising Colts teams in franchise history. The story of the upstart Colts swept through the NFL, with Arians avoiding the chance to step into the spotlight the whole time. Arians took his interim head coaching duties last season with poise and honor, and there is little doubt that he will take those attributes to his much-deserved first full-time head coaching role.