Steve Keim Shifts Focus: Launches New NIL Branding and Player Evaluation Company
In 2024, the Arizona Cardinals will embark on their second year under the leadership of general manager Monti Ossenfort, following Steve Keim’s tenure from 2013 to 2022. Keim’s time with the team began promisingly with two postseason appearances in his first three seasons. However, the following seven years saw a series of disappointments, culminating in a 4-13 record and a last-place finish in his final season. Keim’s later years were marked by several high-profile draft failures, including first-round picks Robert Nkemdiche, Josh Rosen, and Isaiah Simmons, which failed to live up to expectations.
Keim left the Cardinals in 2023, stepping down amid an indefinite leave of absence. He has since redirected his career toward evaluating high school athletes through his new venture, “Brand Boss.” Based in Chandler, Arizona, Keim will offer personalized assessments of players’ strengths and weaknesses as part of his new role. Brand Boss LLC aims to guide high school athletes through the NIL era, providing mentorship and detailed evaluations, including one-on-one Zoom calls with Keim and comprehensive film reviews.
Keim’s Tenure with the Arizona Cardinals
Steve Keim served as GM of the Arizona Cardinals from 2013 to 2022. He earned Pro Football Talk’s NFL Executive of the Year in his first season, leading the team to a 10-6 record. The Cardinals reached an 11-5 record in 2014 and secured an NFC Championship appearance the following year. However, the team struggled in subsequent years, achieving only one winning record in his final seven seasons.
Keim’s draft record was often problematic, with notable misses in the first round. His initial pick, Jonathan Cooper, played just five NFL seasons. Deone Bucannon, selected the following year, struggled throughout his career before being released. After a successful pick in 2015 with D.J. Humphries, Keim’s 2016 pick, Robert Nkemdiche, faced both performance and character issues, leading to a brief NFL career. The 2017 selection of Hassan Reddick failed to make an impact in Arizona but saw a resurgence with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 2018 draft was particularly notable for Keim’s selection of UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the tenth overall pick. Rosen had a disappointing single season with the Cardinals before the team drafted Kyler Murray the following year. The subsequent years saw more draft struggles with picks like Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins, although Keim’s final pick, tight end Trey McBride, has shown promise in his initial seasons.