Reports: Bruce Arians hired as Cardinals head coach

Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will be the next head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

The Cardinals met with Arians on Thursday and were impressed enough to offer him the job, Rapoport reported. He accepted late Thursday night, according to Schefter. Schefter reports the deal is for four seasons with a team option for a fifth year.

The Colts hired Arians last offseason to be their offensive coordinator. But he served as the team’s interim head coach while Chuck Pagano was being treated for leukemia. He led the Colts to a 9-3 record under his tenure as head coach until Pagano returned to coach the team on Dec. 30 against the Houston Texans.

Before returning to the Colts — where he had spent three seasons as their quarterback coach from 1998-2000 — Arians worked from 2004-11 as the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator. He was Cleveland’s offensive coordinator from 2001-03.

Bruce Arians has accepted four-year deal, with a team option for a fifth year, as head coach with Arizona Cardinals.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2013