NEW ORLEANS -- Bruce Arians became the NFL's coach of the year only weeks after the Arizona Cardinals hired him. If that sounds strange, it should. But the honor was earned.

Arians won the award for posting a 9-3 record as Indianapolis' interim coach last season. His performance in the role made him additionally attractive to Arizona as the team sought a successor to Ken Whisenhunt.

The Colts' performance after first-year head coach Chuck Pagano left the team to undergo cancer treatment certainly merited recognition.

St. Louis' Jeff Fisher and Seattle's Pete Carroll certainly would have been worthy candidates this year as well. But as things stand, the NFC West is doing just fine on the coaching front. San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh won the award a year ago. Now, the Cardinals have the reigning winner.

Arians was the overwhelming choice with 36.5 votes, followed by Pagano (5.5), Carroll (five) and Leslie Frazier (three).