Cardinals hire Cristian Garcia (Cowboys’ assistant DB coach) as their new ILB coach

Reasons perhaps as to why the Cardinals tabbed Garcia to replace Sam Seifkes

In Cristian Garcia, the Cardinals have found their ILB coach now that Sam Siefkes is the DC at Virginia Tech. Cristian Garcia comes with 4 years of NFL coaching experience. He has served as a quality control and assistant defensive backs’ coach for the Commanders (2021-2023) and most recently served the same roles with the Cowboys (2024).

The first question that comes to mind is why are the Cardinals hiring an NFL defensive backs’ coach to be the new inside linebacker coach?

Turns out, Cristian Garcia played linebacker for a few seasons at Florida —-

Have a look at his remarkable college journey as a walk-on at Florida:

Perseverance and vision paying off for Cristian Garcia | GatorCountry.com

Cardinals’ connection: Mike Zimmer (JG and Nick Rallis coached under his supervision at Minnesota)

Mike Zimmer mentored Cristian Garcia on his staff last year with the Cowboys and, Garcia, as a quality control coach helped with film study, scouting reports (on the opponents) and game planning (the way JG started out his NFL career) —- and on the field, he helped to coach the Cowboys’ defensive backs. For three years with the Commanders, Garcia filled the same role under defensive icon Ron Rivera.

While it is curious that Cristian Garcia, having spent his first four seasons in the NFL coaching DBs, is now going to coach inside linebackers, one may have strong reasons to believe that Nick Rallis feels it’s a priority to improve the team’s pass coverage, especially from the inside linebackers, where both Kyzir White and Mack Wilson Sr. struggled in 2024. Rallis was the ILB coach in Philly, thus, he should be a strong mentor and guide for Cristian Garcia and all of the linebackers in the room.

Cowboys’ free agents who might be of interest to the Cardinals:

DI Osa Odighizuwa (6-2, 280, UCLA, 26) —- accumulated 60 QB pressures, 7 sacks, 38 tackles (30 solo) m 30 stops, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup, 2 penalties.

SCB Jourdan Lewis (5-10, 195, Michigan, 30) —– thrived in the slot for Mike Zimmer’s defense not only posting a team-high 79.0 coverage grade but for accumulating career highs in tackles with 72 and pass breakups with 5, while adding an interception.

ED Chauncy Golston (6-5, 268, Iowa, 26) —– played in 71% of the Cowboys’ snaps in 2024 and posted 37 QB pressures, 7 sacks, 50 tackles (36 solo), 30 stops, 1 interception and 0 penalties.