Just a few months ago, the Texas Longhorns surprised everyone by parting ways with their dominant defensive coordinator, Pete Kwiatkowski, who had been a part of head coach Steve Sarkisian's staff since 2021.
Without much explanation, Kwiatkowski was headed out the door, and Sarkisian announced he was bringing Will Muschamp onto his staff as the Horns' new DC.
While Texas moved on rather quickly, Kwiatkowski's future was entirely uncertain as he looked for a new job in the world of football. Now, he received a new job, and it's arguably an upgrade.
Arizona Cardinals hire former Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski
The Arizona Cardinals, led by head coach Mike LaFleur, announced that they had hired Kwiatkowski as their new defensive line coach, a point of undeniable success for the Horns' former DC while he was at Texas.
From getting fired by the Longhorns to getting a job at the next level, Kwiatkowski undeniably landed on his feet and will be just fine, even without Sarkisian right by his side.
The #AZCardinals are hiring former University of Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski as their new defensive line coach, source said. A decorated college coach heads to the NFL. pic.twitter.com/eNRUW8X27J
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 18, 2026
Before joining the Horns in 2021, Kwiatkowski was an assistant for the Washington Huskies from 2014 until 2020.
Kwiatkowski started his collegiate coaching career at Boise State, his alma mater and where he played as a defensive lineman in college. He held brief stints at Snow College, Eastern Washington, and Montana State before returning to Boise for eight years until taking his first job at UW.
What's ironic is that Sarkisian and Kwiatkowski never overlapped at Washington, Sark acting as the Huskies' head coach from 2009 until 2013.
Now, Kwiatkowski is heading to the NFL with his first-ever job at the next level, and Sarkisian is still at Texas, reportedly turning down offer after offer to become a head coach in the league.