Rapoport: Steve Keim’s future as Cardinals GM ‘in doubt’ and ‘up in air’

The Arizona Cardinals announced Wednesday that general manager Steve Keim has stepped away from his duties on an indefinite, health-related leave of absence.

Citing law and wanting to give Keim privacy, the team left the reasoning for his absence at that.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport added vague details on Thursday, saying that Keim’s departure was not sudden. The reporter said it’s due to “a situation that has been developing really over the course of the last several weeks and several months.”

Rapoport also indicated that Keim’s return to the job not only does not have a timeline but may not happen at all.

“(The) future is certainly in doubt there. We’ll see. Up in the air, I would say,” Rapoport said. “We’ll see when and if he ends up coming back.”

From NFL Now: A tumultuous season continues for the #AZCardinals, as GM Steve Keim steps away for health-related reasons. pic.twitter.com/M2SQXaYEL1

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 15, 2022

Vice president of player personnel Quentin Harris and vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson have split Keim’s duties on an interim basis at a fork in the team’s road this season. Quarterback Kyler Murray’s torn ACL suffered Monday will challenge the front office into planning for 2023, as the 4-9 team is all but eliminated from the playoffs.

Keim, 50, worked his way up to the team’s head executive position in 2013 after beginning his tenure with the franchise in 1999 as a scout. He became director of college scouting in 2006, director of player personnel in 2008 and VP of player personnel in 2012 before his promotion to GM.

Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury signed a contract extension this offseason through 2027.

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