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Arizona Cardinals begin coaching search, request interviews with Matt Patricia, Jim Schwartz

By The Sports Xchange
Former Detroit Lions head coach and current Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz looks towards Detroit Lions outside linebacker Ashlee Palmer (58) during the Pittsburgh Steelers' 37-27 win on November 17, 2013 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Former Detroit Lions head coach and current Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz looks towards Detroit Lions outside linebacker Ashlee Palmer (58) during the Pittsburgh Steelers' 37-27 win on November 17, 2013 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

In the wake of coach Bruce Arians announcing his retirement Monday, the Arizona Cardinals requested interviews with New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, according to a report by NFL.com.

The Cardinals are seeking a new coach for the first time since the conclusion of the 2012 season.

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Patricia, 43, is in his sixth year as New England's defensive coordinator. He has been on the coaching staff under Bill Belichick since starting as an offensive assistant in 2004.

Patricia was New England's assistant offensive line coach in 2005, spent the next five seasons as the team's linebackers coach and was the Patriots' safeties coach in 2011 before moving into his current role.

Patricia was asked Monday about his expectations for this week and if he was planning to interview with any of these teams that are making coaching changes.

"Yeah, I mean I have no idea about any of that. None of that is even really applicable for me right now because I don't have any information on that," Patricia said.

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The New York Giants also requested an interview with Patricia and Schwartz.

Schwartz, 51, has spent the last two seasons as Philadelphia's defensive coordinator and served in the same capacity for the Buffalo Bills in 2014.

His head coaching experience consists of a 29-51 regular-season record with the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2013. He took over in Detroit the year after the Lions went 0-16 and led the team into the playoffs in 2011.

In his next two seasons, the Lions went 4-12 and 7-9.

Besides Patricia and Schwartz, the Cardinals also plan to set up interviews with Philadelphia quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

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