For the second time in three years, Bruce Arians has been selected as the NFL Associated Press Coach of the Year.
The Cardinals coach led the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth despite having to use three different starting quarterbacks. The Cardinals were 6-0 in games started by Carson Palmer, but he was lost for the season with a torn ACL on Nov. 9. At the time of the injury, the Cardinals had the NFL's best record with an 8-1 mark. The team turned to Drew Stanton, who went 2-1 as a starter when Palmer was out with a shoulder injury.
MORE: Arians is SN Coach of the Year | Bowles wins Coordinator of the Year
Stanton helped the Cardinals win three of their next five, but then suffered an injury to his right knee and missed the final two games. Those games — both losses — were started by Ryan Lindley who threw four interceptions in those losses. Stanton returned for the playoffs, but the injury-depleted Cardinals were beaten by the Carolina Panthers.
Palmer and Stanton weren't the only players to miss time. Linebacker Daryl Washington was suspended for the season. Linebacker John Abraham suffered a concussion in Week One and missed the season. Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett torn an ACL during training camp and was lost for the year. Four other players were placed on injured reserve and another three players missed at least two games with injuries.
Despite the injuries, the Cardinals still improved their 10-6 mark in Arians' first season. He was the AP Coach of the Year in 2012 while serving as the interim head coach in Indianapolis, where he went 9-3 and the Colts finished with an 11-5 record to make the playoffs.
Congrats to the best coach in the league @BruceArians on his 2nd Coach of The Year award! http://t.co/7384sfkZWu pic.twitter.com/LAGvV3KEYh
— Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21) February 1, 2015Arians' defensive coordinator in Arizona, Todd Bowles, received the inaugural assistant coach of the year award. Bowles was hired on Jan. 14 as the new head coach of the Jets.