ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury gets into verbal spat with 49ers CB Josh Norman

Nov 7, 2021, 4:02 PM | Updated: 6:23 pm

Division rivalries bring out the most competitive attitudes, even between opposing coaches and players.

In Sunday afternoon’s 31-17 win at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Josh Norman were seen jawing at each other during the second quarter.

However, it’s unclear what exactly was said or what sparked the spat between the two.

“I thought (the penalties) were both on me and I was getting ejected so I’m glad they weren’t,” Kingsbury said postgame.

“But no, that was just kind of a misunderstanding. I got to keep my composure better and can’t call the ref the things I called him, but luckily it worked out for us.”

It’s not every day that a coach will get into a verbal altercation with an opposing player during a game, but Kingsbury has also proven during his time in Arizona that he isn’t the typical NFL head coach.

“I don’t know,” Kingsbury said of the oddity of opposing players arguing with a coach. “I have a youthful exuberance that attracts it sometimes.”

This also isn’t the first time Norman has been seen chirping at his opponents during a game, either.

The cornerback has a history with the likes of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. when they were both playing on the East Coast.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, is sacked by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers' Trenton Cannon, top, is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Dennis Gardeck during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) fumbles in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., hidden, and safety Budda Baker, bottom, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. The Cardinals recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, top, jumps against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) and safety Budda Baker, bottom, before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by the Cardinals, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tavon Wilson, left, and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley, right, defend a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals tight end Darrell Daniels during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy (12) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy (12) is pressured by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Inactive Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws a pass on the sideline before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with Antoine Wesley #85 after running for a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) celebrates with guard Max Garcia (73) after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) recovers a fumble by San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, rear, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tavon Wilson, left, and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (4) defend a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals tight end Darrell Daniels (81) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the first half of his team's NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) fumbles the ball, which was recovered by the Arizona Cardinals, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz, left, runs against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Former San Francisco 49ers player Bryant Young waves during a ceremony for his induction into the team's Hall of Fame during halftime of an NFL football game between the 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, middle, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) An official gets between San Francisco 49ers cornerback Josh Norman, left, and Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle D.J. Humphries during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs toward the end zone to score against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Inactive Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin (26) runs past San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, left, and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick to score during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) catches a touchdown pass against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford, left, and free safety Jalen Thompson (34) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin, right, celebrates with quarterback Colt McCoy after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin (26) runs toward the end zone to score against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury watches from the sideline during the first half of his team's NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton (33) celebrates with safety Budda Baker (3) and teammates after Baker intercepted a pass by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks, left, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back JaMycal Hasty during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, right, returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) walks off the field after the 49ers were defeated by the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, second from left, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, foreground right, gesture from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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