GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals have cast a wide net for their coaching searches, and they have recently interviewed Seahawks defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Karl Scott for their defensive coordinator job.
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Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive backs coach Karl Scott against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Cardinals interviewed Karl Scott for defensive coordinator position:
The #Cardinals interviewed #Seahawks defensive pass game coordinator Karl Scott for their defensive coordinator job, sources tell @CBSSports.
Scott, who has been of interest for a few DC jobs the last two years, helped Seattle rank No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense. pic.twitter.com/YMGiONuWWA
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 12, 2026
Scott was a vital architect behind Seattle’s defense, which reestablished its edge this season. The Seahawks ranked near the top of the league in limiting explosive pass plays and tightened their red-zone coverage, two categories that often define playoff defenses. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through structure, disguise, and player development, which are Scott’s specialties.
Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive backs coach Scott against the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For Arizona, the strategic impact is obvious. The Cardinals struggled with consistency in coverage and situational defense. In today’s NFL, where quarterbacks diagnose coverages faster than ever, defensive success hinges on versatility. Scott’s background in pattern-match concepts and split-safety structures would immediately modernize Arizona’s approach.
Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive backs coach Scott against the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
There’s also a psychological layer here as players around the league respect Scott’s teaching ability and clarity. Defenses thrive when communication is clean, and accountability is shared. That culture shift matters just as much as the scheme. Locally, Cardinals fans want a defense that complements what Mike LeFleur can build offensively, one that creates short fields and late-game stops. To compete, Arizona must win on the back end. This isn’t a splash hire, it’s a smart one. If the Cardinals want sustainable contention, pairing LeFleur’s offensive structure with Scott’s defensive precision is exactly the kind of calculated swing that changes trajectories.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
