In addition to being an assistant linebackers coach, he has also been the defensive quality control coach since 2017. He was an early McD hire and there was no Carolina connection.
His cap hit for 2021 was just over $36mil and now it has been reduced to around $12mil, that's the $24mil in cap space. Then if he retires after June 1, his $22.6mil in dead cap space can be spread out over 2 years.
Makes sense to me, a chain with the 3 guys he beat on what ended up being a almost meaningless play in the grand scheme of things. And a cemetery to signify the death of the cardinals season.