The Arizona Cardinals lost linebackers coach Sam Siefkes to the college ranks this month as he was hired as the defensive coordinator of Virginia Tech. They have reportedly found his replacement.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cardinals have hired Cristian Garcia as their new inside linebackers coach. Garcia was Dallas’ assistant defensive backs coach last season under head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Per Archer, the Cowboys wanted to retain him, but the opportunity to become a position coach was too much to pass up.
He has been in the NFL coaching ranks for four years. He was with the Washington Commanders from 2021-2023 as a defensive assistant and defensive quality control coach. He finished the 2023 season as the interim assistant defensive backs coach.
Garcia’s connection to Zimmer gave him a connection to Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, both of whom worked with Zimmer when he was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys hired new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams away from the Cardinals, where he had been the offensive line coach for two seasons.
Adams was well regarded in the organization and his departure is seen as a loss. Since the Cowboys wanted to retain Garcia and the Cardinals would have liked to have kept Adams, it would appear the teams can count things as even now.
The Cardinals and Cowboys will play in Dallas in 2025, so both Adams and Garcia will have a reunion with their former teams.
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