# Ken Whisenhunt
**Ken Whisenhunt** is an [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) coach and former player who served as head coach of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals from 2007 to 2012, leading them to their first [Super Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl) appearance in franchise history, and of the [Tennessee Titans](https://www.edgepedia.org/tennessee-titans) in 2014 and 2015.[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/) In September 2024 he was named head coach of the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL).[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/) Across a coaching career that began in 1995, he spent 23 seasons as a coach and eight as an NFL player.[2](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/ufl-coaching-changes-league-managed-100250529.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cardinals head coach | 2007-2012, six seasons, 96 games, regular season 45-51-0 (.469)[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/coaches.htm) |
| Combined Cardinals record | 49-53-0 (.480) including a 4-2 playoff record[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/coaches.htm) |
| Super Bowl XLIII | Cardinals lost 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers after a team-record 12-win 2008 season[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/) • [4](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2021/ARI.pdf) |
| Titans head coach | 2014-2015, 3-20, fired in November 2015[5](https://apnews.com/article/2490d0d6a087ef98bb4aefee22018020) |
| Offensive coordinator | Pittsburgh Steelers 2004-06 (Super Bowl XL champion); San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers 2013 and 2016-19[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/) |
| Playing career | NFL tight end, 74 games and 62 receptions[6](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/whisenhunt-watching-tight-ends-673051) |
| Education | Civil engineering degree, Georgia Tech[7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/chargers/twkxjycn4vyk8ijmgzr2.pdf) |
| UFL | Head coach of the Memphis Showboats, named September 23, 2024[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/) |
## Playing career and early coaching
Whisenhunt played tight end and H-back in the NFL, appearing in 74 games with 62 receptions over a career that included a stint with the [Atlanta Falcons](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-falcons) beginning in 1988.[6](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/whisenhunt-watching-tight-ends-673051) • [8](https://www.nfl.com/players/ken-whisenhunt/stats/career) He earned a degree in civil engineering from [Georgia Tech](https://www.edgepedia.org/georgia-tech) before entering coaching.[7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/chargers/twkxjycn4vyk8ijmgzr2.pdf)
In 1997 he landed his first NFL job tutoring tight ends for Baltimore (1997-98).[7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/chargers/twkxjycn4vyk8ijmgzr2.pdf) He later served as an assistant under Ted Marchibroda, Chris Palmer, Al Groh, Bill Cowher, Mike McCoy, and [Anthony Lynn](https://www.edgepedia.org/anthony-lynn).[9](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/444/ken-whisenhunt-bio)
## Arizona Cardinals (2007-2012)
Whisenhunt was hired as the Cardinals' head coach in 2007 after coming from Pittsburgh's staff, where he had been offensive coordinator.[10](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cards-do-it-whisenhunt-s-way-703860) His first team went 8-8, the best record the franchise's veteran players had posted in Arizona.[10](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cards-do-it-whisenhunt-s-way-703860) He arrived intending to run a run-based offense built around quarterback [Matt Leinart](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-leinart) and a 3-4 defense like the one he had watched in Pittsburgh, but by the end of his first season the defense had become a hybrid, [Kurt Warner](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurt-warner) was throwing more often than handing off, and offensive coordinator [Todd Haley](https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-haley) was calling plays.[10](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cards-do-it-whisenhunt-s-way-703860)
**The 2008 season.** In his second year, Whisenhunt led the Cardinals to a 9-7 regular season, the [NFC West](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfc-west) title, their first division championship since 1975, and their first playoff appearance since 1998.[4](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2021/ARI.pdf) The team recorded 12 total wins, the most in a single season in franchise history, and won more playoff games in 2008 (3) than it had in its entire prior playoff history (2).[4](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2021/ARI.pdf) The run ended in [Super Bowl XLIII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xliii), a 27-23 loss to the [Pittsburgh Steelers](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh-steelers), the team Whisenhunt had left.[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/) • [11](https://www.si.com/nfl/Best-Head-Coaches-in-Arizona-Cardinals-History)
Over six seasons Whisenhunt won a franchise-record 49 games, and no Cardinals coach has coached more games than his 96.[12](https://www.nfl.info/download/2012MediaGuides/2014%20NFL%20Kickoff%20Guide.pdf) • [11](https://www.si.com/nfl/Best-Head-Coaches-in-Arizona-Cardinals-History) The final three seasons in Arizona were losing years, and his inability to replicate the success he had with Warner under his other quarterbacks marked the decline of the tenure.[13](https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/1/7/5280806/ken-whisenhunt-lions-cardinals)
## Tennessee Titans (2014-2015)
After the 2013 season as the [San Diego Chargers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-chargers)' offensive coordinator, a year in which he was named PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year, Whisenhunt became the 17th head coach in Titans franchise history in January 2014.[14](https://www.footballdb.com/coaches/ken-whisenhunt-whiseke01) • [15](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/ken-whisenhunt-s-introductory-press-conference-transcript-12437892) The 2014 season ended with a 10-game losing streak, and the Titans fired him on November 3, 2015, with a 1-6 start to the season and a career record in Tennessee of 3-20.[16](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/titans-shockingly-fire-whisenhunt-after-1-6-start-5-things-to-know/) • [5](https://apnews.com/article/2490d0d6a087ef98bb4aefee22018020) He remains one of only two coaches fired during the season by the franchise since it relocated to Nashville in 1997.[5](https://apnews.com/article/2490d0d6a087ef98bb4aefee22018020)
## Later NFL and UFL coaching
For the 2023 season he served as a special assistant to Alabama head coach [Nick Saban](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-saban).[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/)
In September 2024 the United Football League named him head coach of the [Memphis Showboats](https://www.edgepedia.org/memphis-showboats), who had finished 2-8 in the league's inaugural 2024 season under John DeFilippo.[1](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/) He stepped away from the role in March 2025, with offensive line coach Jim Turner serving as interim head coach, returned on April 1, 2025, and then took a permanent leave from the position on April 16, 2025.[17](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/ken-whisenhunt-steps-down-as-head-coach-of-ufls-memphis-showboats)
## Coaching style
Whisenhunt has described playcalling as one of the things he most enjoyed about coaching, calling it as close as he could still get to playing the game; he surrendered the duty to Todd Haley in Arizona and took it back when Haley left for Kansas City.[18](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/whisenhunt-reflects-on-playcalling-815990) At his Titans introduction he said his offense would be versatile, with multiple personnel packages and up-tempo components, and targeted roughly a 50/50 run-pass ratio, and he credited Joe Gibbs and Bill Cowher as the coaches he learned most from.[15](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/ken-whisenhunt-s-introductory-press-conference-transcript-12437892) As a coordinator he has been noted for using a fullback in both gap and outside-zone run concepts, an uncommon combination in the modern NFL.[19](https://www.stampedeblue.com/2018/8/10/17659930/frank-reichs-offense-the-assistant-coaching-years-ken-whisenhunt-and-doug-pederson)
## References
1. [Showboats hire Ken Whisenhunt as head coach, Field Level Media](https://fieldlevelmedia.com/news/showboats-hire-ken-whisenhunt-as-head-coach/)
2. [UFL coaching changes: How league managed Reggie Barlow, Ken Whisenhunt departures, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/ufl-coaching-changes-league-managed-100250529.html)
3. [Arizona Cardinals Coaches, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/coaches.htm)
4. [Arizona Cardinals 2021 Media Guide, NFL.com](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2021/ARI.pdf)
5. [Titans make Brian Callahan NFL's 1st coach fired this year, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/2490d0d6a087ef98bb4aefee22018020)
6. [Whisenhunt Watching Tight Ends, AZCardinals.com](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/whisenhunt-watching-tight-ends-673051)
7. [Ken Whisenhunt biography, Los Angeles Chargers](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/chargers/twkxjycn4vyk8ijmgzr2.pdf)
8. [Ken Whisenhunt Career Stats, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/ken-whisenhunt/stats/career)
9. [Ken Whisenhunt bio, Pro Football History.com](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/444/ken-whisenhunt-bio)
10. [Cards Do It Whisenhunt's Way, AZCardinals.com](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cards-do-it-whisenhunt-s-way-703860)
11. [Best Head Coaches in Arizona Cardinals History, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/nfl/Best-Head-Coaches-in-Arizona-Cardinals-History)
12. [2014 NFL Kickoff Guide, NFL](https://www.nfl.info/download/2012MediaGuides/2014%20NFL%20Kickoff%20Guide.pdf)
13. [A look at Ken Whisenhunt's head coaching tenure with Cardinals, Pride Of Detroit](https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/1/7/5280806/ken-whisenhunt-lions-cardinals)
14. [Ken Whisenhunt Coaching Record, The Football Database](https://www.footballdb.com/coaches/ken-whisenhunt-whiseke01)
15. [Ken Whisenhunt's Introductory Press Conference Transcript, TennesseeTitans.com](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/ken-whisenhunt-s-introductory-press-conference-transcript-12437892)
16. [Titans shockingly fire Whisenhunt after 1-6 start, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/titans-shockingly-fire-whisenhunt-after-1-6-start-5-things-to-know/)
17. [Ken Whisenhunt steps down as head coach of UFL's Memphis Showboats, NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/ken-whisenhunt-steps-down-as-head-coach-of-ufls-memphis-showboats)
18. [Whisenhunt Reflects On Playcalling, AZCardinals.com](https://www.azcardinals.com/news/whisenhunt-reflects-on-playcalling-815990)
19. [Frank Reich's offense: The assistant coaching years, Stampede Blue](https://www.stampedeblue.com/2018/8/10/17659930/frank-reichs-offense-the-assistant-coaching-years-ken-whisenhunt-and-doug-pederson)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › NFL head coaches › Current and recent head coaches*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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