Cardinals sign coach Arians, GM Keim to extensions

Feb 23, 2015 - 6:48 PM Tempe, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - The Arizona Cardinals reached agreements on contract extensions with head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim on Monday.

Each is now under contract through the 2018 season.

The Cardinals have a record of 21-11 since Arians and Keim were appointed to their current roles.

"Two years ago we hired Steve and Bruce a few days apart and believed we had something really special," said Cardinals president Michael Bidwill. "Every day since then, they have done nothing but validate that belief.

"The team's performance over the last two seasons certainly reflects how talented they are in their respective roles and it was important that we reward them for their accomplishments."

Arizona tied the franchise record for wins in a season with 11 in 2014 and reached the playoffs, earning Arians Coach of the Year honors for the second time in three years. He also won the award after serving as the interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts while Chuck Pagano battled leukemia during the 2012 season.

The 62-year-old Arians joined Don Coryell as the only coaches in club history to win 10-plus games in consecutive seasons.

Keim has been with the Cardinals since 1999, serving as a scout, director of college scouting, director of player personnel and vice president of player personnel before being named GM on Jan. 8, 2013.

Arians was hired nine days later and led the Cardinals to a 10-6 record in his first season.