Bruce Arians is an outspoken guy.
He decried the proliferation of spread-system quarterbacks coming into the NFL.
“They hold up a card on the sideline, he kicks his foot and throws the ball. That ain’t playing quarterback. There’s no leadership involved there.”
He also recently admitted a week one loss to the Tom Brady-less Patriots derailed his team’s 2016 season.
“I think the biggest reason was losing the opener on Sunday Night Football to the Patriots on that missed field goal. That took a lot of swagger out of our football team.”
But one issue where Arians remained mum was his health.
Arians admitted to having battled cancer.
From NFL.com:
Bruce Arians underwent surgery in February to remove a cancerous spot on one of his kidneys, the Arizona Cardinals coach reveals in his new book, The Quarterback Whisperer.
In the book, Arians describes finding out in December that an ultrasound he underwent for a hernia revealed renal cell carcinoma on one of his kidneys. Arians managed to coach the remainder of the season before undergoing surgery to have a “small portion” of the affected kidney removed.
Despite the surgery, Arians managed to attend the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
It wasn’t the first cancer scare for Arians. In 2007, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and he had cancerous cells removed from his nose in 2013.
“Now I feel great,” Arians states in the book, which was released Tuesday. “My energy has returned. I’m told I’m cancer-free again. I’m ready for at least one more season of NFL football — maybe more.”
The surgery marked the third time Arians, 64, was hospitalized in less than eight months. In August, he was hospitalized in San Diego after dealing with symptoms associated with Diverticulitis, a condition which affects the digestive tract. In November, he went underwent testing for symptoms related to chest pains following a road game against the Minnesota Vikings.
“I now realize more than ever nothing is guaranteed in life,” Arians wrote. “Every day needs to enjoyed and celebrated to the fullest. Roses need to be smelled, sunsets savored, time with family cherished. Moving forward, I want to be a beacon of hope for others struggling with cancer. My fight is their fight. I’m not coaching for myself in 2017; I’m coaching for everyone who’s dealing with cancer. This is my charge.”
After having a few bouts with illness, Arians is cancer-free.
Coincidentally, after years of being an under-the-radar offensive assistant, Arians finally got his opportunity to be the top man when he was named interim coach of the Indianapolis Colts because Chuck Pagano took a leave of absence to battle cancer.
Arians is a bright offensive mind with a strong team ready to contend.
Now that Arians doesn’t have the pall of cancer hanging over him, the sky’s the limit for the Arizona Cardinals.