Spencer Whipple, Cardinals’ wearer of many hats, moves to RBs coach for Rams game

TEMPE — Every NFL team has their Jack of all trades. For the Arizona Cardinals, that role belongs to pass game specialist Spencer Whipple.

Among the handful of holdovers from the Kliff Kingsbury regime, Whipple has held many titles since coming to Arizona in 2019.

They include:

– Offensive quality control coach (2019)
– Assistant wide receivers coach (2020-21)
– Co-pass game coordinator (2022)
– Pass game specialist: wide receivers (2023)
– Pass game specialist: tight ends (2024)

This week, Whipple is once again adding more onto his plate, stepping in for Autry Denson as Arizona’s running backs coach against the Los Angeles Rams.

“Autry Denson will not be at the game. He’s got a family matter,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday morning. “Him and his family are in our prayers. He’ll be back Monday. Spencer Whipple will take over his responsibilities on game day.”

In addition to the above list, Whipple’s unofficial roles include exceeding expectations as interim play caller for a 2021 game when Kliff Kingsbury tested positive for COVID-19 and serving as a fill-in RBs coach midway through 2022. The latter came after James Saxon was fired having pled guilty in a domestic battery case and assistant running backs coach Don Shumpert was let go.

It’s those emergency appointments and Whipple’s behind-the-scenes work of scouting the league that stand out.

Whipple’s versatility, a trait that Gannon covets, are incredibly valuable to not only the new regime but also the coach.

“Especially early on in your career, no matter where you’re at, you want to get exposed as much as possible,” Whipple told Arizona Sports in August. “Just being around different positions and soaking in that knowledge and getting around other coaches. Not just the football knowledge but the teaching methods of each coach is a little bit different. Everybody does it a different way.

“Just being able to document those things so I can infuse those into my own style to create some ways of how I want to teach and coach. I’m just really fortunate to be in all those rooms and be moved around and exposed to all those different things.”

Who’s the pinch hitter for Spencer Whipple, the Cardinals’ pinch hitter?

Serving as Arizona’s fill-in running backs coach this weekend isn’t the only title Whipple will be adding to the resume this month.

He and his wife expecting a baby girl that could potentially arrive at any time just two weeks out from the due date.

“It’s always something you think about and just the excitement. It’s always kind of in the back of your mind,” Whipple said of becoming a dad. “You’re passionate about the job, you’re working for yourself and your wife and now you have a baby daughter that you’re trying to be the best as you can be each day — whether you’re coaching or not — just to be in that right frame to raise them.”

As for the preferred arrival timeline?

“The tail end of that three-game home stretch would be nice, so I’m not getting on a plane to go somewhere,” Whipple said.

Let’s hope the Cardinals have a backup plan for their backup plan this weekend.

Just in case.

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