TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to new four-year contracts with coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves that will run through the 2013 season.
Whisenhunt’s deal includes a club option for 2014.
The coach had a year left plus a team option for 2011 on the four-year contract he signed in January 2007.
He has a 31-23 record and has yet to have a losing season in Arizona. His Cardinals went 8-8 the first season, 9-7 in 2008 and 10-6 last year. The Cardinals are 4-2 in the playoffs under Whisenhunt, including the upset run to the 2009 Super Bowl.
Graves is entering his 14th season with Arizona. He was named general manager in 2007.
The Cardinals hired Whisenhunt, then offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, after firing Dennis Green following the 2006 season.
Before Whisenhunt arrived, Arizona had just one winning season since 1984, four years before the franchise moved from St. Louis, and one playoff victory since 1947.
He directed the franchise to its first consecutive division titles since 1975. The Cardinals are 13-5 against NFC West foes since Whisenhunt became coach.
“Obviously Ken Whisenhunt’s achievements as head coach speak for themselves,” Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said in a news release announcing the new contracts Thursday. “What the team has accomplished in his three seasons as head coach is a testament to the talent and hard work of Ken and his assistant coaches.”
Bidwill praised the work of Graves and his staff in putting together the talent that resulted in NFC West championships the last two seasons.
Graves joined the team as assistant to the president in 1997. He was promoted to vice president for football operations in 2003.
Of the 22 Arizona starters at the end of last season, 13 were draft choices during Graves’ tenure.
The Cardinals noted that Graves is one of five African-American general managers in the NFL.
Whisenhunt and Graves were at the draft combine in Indianapolis and could not be reached for comment.
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