Meet one of the candidates for the Vikings' head coach position: Todd Bowles.
Coaching candidate: Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles
Contact: Expected to meet with the Vikings next week
Head coaching experience: Interim head coach for the Dolphins in 2011 (2-1)
NFL coaching experience: 14 seasons
2000 – Defensive backs coach for the Jets
2001-04 – Defensive nickel package coach (three years) and secondary coach for the Browns
2005-07 – Secondary coach for the Cowboys
2008-11 – Assistance head coach/secondary head coach for the Dolphins
2012 – Defensive backs coach promoted to defensive coordinator with the Eagles
2013 – Defensive coordinator with the Cardinals
Background:
When Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians named his coordinators, he made it one of his goals to make them head coaches someday.
Bowles' opportunity could come after just one season as defensive coordinator. The Cardinals finished 10-6 but did not make the playoffs. Their defense, however, was one of the best in the league finishing in the top 10 in total yards allowed (sixth; 317.4), rushing yards allowed (first; 84.4) and points allowed (seventh; 20.3)
Hall of Famer Bill Parcells has been one of Bowles' mentors as a coach. He's spent three tenures under Parcells as a head coach, general manager or executive with the Jets, Cowboys and Dolphins. Bowles took over as interim head coach for the Dolphins in 2011 after Tony Sparano was fired with three games left.
The Elizabeth, NJ played cornerback and won Super Bowl XXII as a member of the Redskins. Bowles, 50, played for eight seasons in the NFL despite signing as an undrafted free agent out of Temple in 1986.
It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.
