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After two seasons, defensive coordinator Ray Horton will reportedly not be returning to the organization in 2013.
While the Arizona Cardinals defense made great strides in 2012 -- ranked in the top 5 this season in pass defense and team takeaways -- defensive coordinator Ray Horton won't live to see another day in the Valley, according to Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports.

Although Horton previously worked for six seasons (2004-2010) in Pittsburgh with Bruce Arians, the new Cardinals head coach will reportedly not be retaining him on his staff.

On Wednesday, ArizonaSports.com had heard that would be the case, but has not yet confirmed Silver's report.

Bowles, who will reportedly be replacing Horton, played eight seasons (1986-1993) in the NFL as a safety for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers.

He has served as an NFL assistant with six different franchises since 1995, and most recently was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012.

Bowles worked with Arians when the two were together with the Cleveland Browns from 2001-2003.

Arizona Sports,

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    Sillysoft wrote...
    Some Fans Dont Get It
    January 18, 2013 1:54 am
    Seriously, Horton would of left no matter what if he didnt get the HC position. He has one year left on his contract and he would of left after next season. He has made it clear he wants to be a HC, just know this if he was offered a HC job with another team this off season Horton would of left in a heart beat. So dont feel sorry for the guy, why waste a year with a DC who is planning on leaving anyway? Im not saying Horton leaving is a good thing, Im just saying it was going to happen one way or another, sooner or later.
  • Abuse
    SafteyE wrote...
    Under Ray Horton the Cards ended
    January 18, 2013 3:07 am
    the '12 reg season ranked 21st out of 32 teams in total defense, 28th against the pass, 5th against the run, 11th in sacks, and 16th in scoring defense. I liked Horton as well and wanted him as the next HC, but this idea that the Cards were a great defense last year and Horton ran such an innovative and aggressive scheme that caught most teams off guard is just plain wrong. Even though the D kept this team in many games, when it all was said and done, they were by no means dominant or even consistently above average. So...
  • Abuse
    SafteyE wrote...
    So...
    January 18, 2013 3:22 am
    since this hire of Arians apparently means the Cards will be losing a DC (Horton) who was average at best during his stay here, it is absolutely comical reading so many of you publicly melt down on this site, and proclaiming how you are really "done" with this team now. LOL. Really? Like one of the posters above me said, don't let the door hit you on the way out. LOL.
  • Abuse
    desertspin wrote...
    Not just the Cowgirls
    January 18, 2013 5:10 am
    Been on the message boards lately? Half the league is clamoring for Horton to come their way. Packers, Browns, Bears, Chargers, the list goes on. Oh, & guess which team in our own division is sitting without a DC right now? What if we get to watch the Seahawks new Horton defense spank our butts next year, won't that be fun? Arians is more interested in his promises to his buddy Bowles than putting the interests of the team first.
  • Abuse
    Btg1964 wrote...
    Is this for real?
    January 18, 2013 6:17 am
    There is nothing about this that makes any sense. It can't be true. The press conference is today. Until Arians says its true, don't believe it. Horton is the ONLY thing this teams has going for it. One report by an unknown does not the truth make. Now, if Arians confirms this, then rant.
  • Abuse
    gmoney wrote...
    Could it be that Ray Horton wanted out?
    January 18, 2013 7:13 am
    Why would Horton want to stay as the DC if he was led to believe that he had a "real" shot at being the HC? I think that if this is true, Horton is the one that asked out of his contract. He will surface somewhere else as a DC, maybe not this year, but he is a good coach and will survive. If he asked out, it was the right thing to do!!!
  • Abuse
    mcpringles wrote...
    Arizona was desperate
    January 18, 2013 7:18 am
    I'm pissed about losing Horton but It don't think the Cardinals had any other choice. Let's face it he was on his way out. Even if he stays this year he will probably get 6 coaching interviews next year and take one. The cards want an offensive coach because they had the worst offense this season. The top coaches were already taken. If the cards would of hired Gruden or Bevell who would by the OC? And who would be the DC next year when Horton gets a HC job somewhere else? I hope Horton does well wherever he goes. He was the best coach the cards ever had.
  • Abuse
    CardinalsDUDE wrote...
    OKAY GUYS CALM DOWN
    January 18, 2013 7:38 am
    We all are true Cardinals fans, because it hurts us when the Cards go 5-11, trade players like Aquan Boldin away. This is sports. I will find it hard to believe that these rumors are true about Ray Horton. I'm fine with the HC hire but I hope we don't lose Horton. In this article it talked about what Bowles coachs. He coachs DB's to! And we lost our DB coach to Mississippi state! Enough said
  • Abuse
    HunterSThompson wrote...
    GONG!!!!!!
    January 18, 2013 7:43 am
    Incredible. The best thing to happen to the Cardinals since the Superbowl was Ray Horton creating a defense that is the envy of most teams in the NFL....in TWO SEASONS. So what does the incredibly inept Cardinals franchise do? Alienate the guy to the point he is asking to leave. With that kind of loyalty from the Cardinals, don't expect the fans or players to re-up when it is their time to make a decision as to where their own priorities lie. Cue Ron Wolfley attempting to convince us that this is somehow a brilliant move by Steve Kiem and Mike Bidwill in 5...4...3...2....1. What a joke.
  • Abuse
    Lee A. wrote...
    Arians and Horton
    January 18, 2013 7:49 am
    I don't like seeing Horton leave either, the D was all this team had going for it the last two seasons. But in thinking about it, maybe Arians was well aware of Horton's "displeasure" at not getting the HC job and rather than force him to honor the last year of his DC contract and be unhappy, bring in Bowles and let Horton hook up with another team as DC. Maybe it was a case of one friend doing another a favor, even though it may not appear so to us on the outside.
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