Razing Arizona

McGinnis' job not in the Cards despite stunning Vikings

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images By the Numbers Dave McGinnis' coaching record Year W L T 2000 * 1 8 0 2001 7 9 0 2002 5 11 0 2003 4 12 0 Totals 17 40 0 * -- Including eight games as interim coach.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Head coach Dave McGinnis was fired by the Arizona Cardinals on Monday after a 4-12 season that ended with a stunning victory to keep Minnesota out of the playoffs.

McGinnis, who had one year left on his contract, was 17-40 in three-plus seasons as head coach, including 1-7 as interim coach after Vince Tobin was fired during the 2000 season.

Defensive coordinator Larry Marmie and linebacker Raynoch Thompson confirmed the firing as they the left Cardinals' headquarters. The team later announced the move and said it would have an afternoon news conference.

"Dave McGinnis is an exemplary man, making today's action all the more difficult," owner Bill Bidwill said in a statement released by the team. "But we need to change. Our slide to 4-12 this season and the non-competitive nature of many of the losses was not acceptable."

McGinnis' entire coaching staff was fired.

The Cardinals were 7-9 in McGinnis' first full season, and 5-11 last season. Arizona was 4-4 at home this season, but 0-8 on the road.

The emotional, highly likable McGinnis, popular with the media and his players, coached linebackers for the Chicago Bears from 1986-95 and was Arizona's defensive coordinator from 1996 until he was promoted to head coach.

McGinnis was on the verge of becoming the Bears' head coach before the 1999 season but left Chicago without taking the job.

"He's the best coach and one of the best people I've ever been around," offensive tackle L.J. Shelton said.

VIDEO Feeling the Arizona heat Cardinals VP Michael Bidwill announces the firing of head coach Dave McGinnis.

After Josh McCown threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Poole on fourth-and-25 as time expired Sunday to give Arizona an 18-17 victory over Minnesota, the receiver gave McGinnis the ball.

But even that victory had a sour aftermath. It cost the Cardinals the No. 1 pick in next year's draft; they'll pick third.

The Cardinals have had just one winning season since 1984, and owner Bill Bidwill gave McGinnis added personnel authority.

"This thing's broke and we're gonna fix it," McGinnis said at the time.

But the team lost nine of its last 10 games in 2002, and Rod Graves was promoted to vice president of football operations early this year, assuming control of personnel matters.

There were wholesale changes, with Jeff Blake replacing Jake Plummer at quarterback. The team let its top three receivers go via free agency, and had big problems on defense, especially on the line.

As result, the Cardinals were the youngest team in the NFL for the third consecutive season.

Still, Graves said he felt the team had the personnel to be competitive, and he wanted to see improvement as the year progressed.

The Cardinals, though, became the first NFL team since 1987 to finish last in both points scored and points allowed.

McGinnis spoke to his players Monday morning, before he met with Bidwill and Graves.