PHOENIX (AP) -Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley declined an invitation to interview for the head coaching job of the Miami Dolphins, and instead signed a contract extension with Arizona on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old coach’s contract with the Cardinals now runs through the 2010 season. The deal is worth between $1 million and $1.5 million, making him one of the highest-paid offensive coordinators in the league and almost certainly the highest-paid assistant coach in the Cardinals’ often-stingy history.
“Obviously, continuity is important when you’ve made a little progress, and I think Todd did an outstanding job,” head coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
Speculation that Haley might be a candidate for the Dolphins job began after Bill Parcells took over as head of football operations for Miami and fired coach Cam Cameron following a 1-15 season. Haley had been on Parcells’ staffs with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.
“Any time you have anybody that’s in consideration for a head coaching position, that certainly speaks well for the organization and the type of quality people that you have,” Whisenhunt said.
Whisenhunt praised owner Bill Bidwill and son Michael for their willingness to make the deal.
“It’s a testament to their commitment that we’re doing what it takes to win,” he said.
Haley came to Arizona after Whisenhunt was hired a year ago. The two had worked together on the Jets’ staff in 2000.
“We shared an office together in New York when we both worked with the Jets,” Whisenhunt said. “I think you learn a lot about a fellow coach when you share an office for a season. I tried to get Todd into Pittsburgh with us, but at the time he went to Dallas.”
Whisenhunt was Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator before taking the Arizona job and called most of the plays in the Cardinals’ 8-8 season. However, he said his intent is to eventually have Haley call the plays, just as what happened with Whisenhunt under Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh.
Arizona’s offense finished sixth in the NFC in total yards, fourth in yards passing and third in points per game. The Cardinals set franchise records for passing touchdowns with 32, breaking the record of 30 set 44 years ago. Arizona scored more than 20 points in eight consecutive games.
Whisenhunt had said he hoped to keep his staff together but knew there would be interest in some as head coaching possibilities. The biggest name would be offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who was a finalist for the Steelers’ job a year ago and, as a former Pro Bowl player for the Redskins, would seem a logical candidate to replace Joe Gibbs.
Haley has been an NFL assistant for 11 years. He was wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Cowboys from 2004-06. He began his coaching career as an offensive assistant to Parcells with the Jets in 1997. Before coming to Dallas, Haley was the Chicago Bears’ receivers coach for three years.
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