Report: Sarkisian spurns Arizona to head back to Alabama

Former Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is set to turn down an offer from the Arizona Cardinals to return to the college ranks with Alabama, according to an ESPN report.

While the Arizona Cardinals offered Steve Sarkisian the offensive coordinator position, sources say he will headed back to coach with Nick Saban at Alabama.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) January 13, 2019

Steve Sarkisian is unlikely to be joining Kliff Kingsbury’s staff as offensive coordinator for the #AZCardinals, sources say. That’s the way it looks as of now anyway. The team has spoken to a few candidates, including former #Giants HC Ben McAdoo, as @JordanRaanan said.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 13, 2019

After two seasons with the Falcons, Sarkisian was fired on Dec. 31. Cardinals new coach Kliff Kingsbury wants to call his own plays and that would have made the offensive coordinator position less attractive to Sarkisian, who was on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama before joining the Falcons.