Sources: Cards assistant fired for groping woman

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach and running game coordinator Sean Kugler was fired after he allegedly groped a woman in Mexico City over the weekend, sources told ESPN.

Mexican authorities were notified of the incident, which happened Sunday night, and then informed the Cardinals, who terminated Kugler and sent him back to Arizona on a flight Monday morning. The Cardinals had arrived in Mexico City on Saturday.

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury announced Wednesday that Steve Heiden will replace Kugler as offensive line coach for now.

He declined to specifically address the reasons for Kugler’s firing, saying the team will let the legal process play out before discussing the matter further.

“Obviously he’s been relieved of his duties, as you’ve seen,” Kingsbury said, adding that he’s “really limited” in what he can say for now because of the legal process.

Kugler is the second Cardinals assistant coach to be accused of assaulting a woman this year.

In May, former running backs coach James Saxon turned himself in to Indiana police after assaulting a woman in her Indianapolis home. He was sentenced in October to one year in jail, which was suspended, and given one year of probation.

Saxon kept his job with the Cardinals until his arrest became public Aug. 4, when he was put on administrative leave. Saxon resigned in October.

Kugler, 56, has coached at the high school, college and NFL levels since 1990. He had joined Kingsbury’s staff in 2019.

The Cardinals lost 38-10 to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday at Estadio Azteca.