NFL coach fired after allegedly groping woman on team road trip
An NFL coach has been shown the door after he allegedly groped a woman while the team was on an away trip.
Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach and running game co-ordinator Sean Kugler was fired after he allegedly groped a woman on Sunday night while the team was in Mexico City for a game against the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN.
Mexican authorities informed the Cardinals of the incident and Kugler was terminated by the team. He was not present for Arizona’s 38-10 loss to San Francisco at Estadio Azteca, the NY Post reports.
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“We relieved him of his duties, and he was sent home Monday morning prior to the game,” coach Kliff Kingsbury told the Arizona Republic’s, Bob McManaman. “It’s challenging any time you make a staff change in that type of manner.”
Further details about the matter were not disclosed. The Cardinals and Kugler have not yet addressed the situation publicly.
Prior to joining Kingsbury’s staff in 2019, Kugler coached with the Lions, Bills, Steelers, and Broncos. The 56-year-old also coached at the college and high school levels.
Cardinals assistant offensive line coach Brian Natkin and tight ends coach Steve Heiden will take over Kugler’s duties.
#AZCardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury when addressing the Sean Kugler situation to the team:
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 24, 2022
âFrom this whole group, Iâm going to ask two things moving forward. Make sure ⦠nobody has to stand in front of the media and answer any questions about dumb shit off the field, one.â
Kugler is the second Cardinals assistant coach to be accused of assaulting a woman this year.
In August, former running backs coach James Saxon was placed on administrative leave after news broke that he had been charged with assaulting a woman in her Indianapolis home in May. Saxon was given one year of probation, and he resigned in October.
The Cardinals host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday.
This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.