TEMPE, Ariz. -- The red driving cap that Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians wore on the sideline during Thursday night’s win against the Minnesota Vikings was not approved by the NFL, which had previously denied Arians from wearing it during games.
But that did not stop Arians from wearing his signature cap in support of his family’s foundation.
Before Thursday’s game, the Arians Family Foundation presented a check for $150,000 to CASA of Maricopa County, which Arians’ foundation helps support partly through the sales of the cap on the Cardinals’ team website. He decided to continue wearing the hat “because of the check presentation and trying to raise some awareness.
“That hat had a lot to do with raising that money,” Arians said. “We’re very happy to do it.”
The foundation auctioned Arians’ game-worn hat, which the coach also autographed. As of Friday afternoon, the highest bid was $400. The auction will end Dec. 21.
The NFL did not respond to ESPN’s request for comment on Arians wearing the hat Thursday.
Arians lobbied the NFL to allow him to wear the hat on the sideline when he was hired in 2013. His request was denied even though the hats are made by New Era, the league's headwear partner.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN in June that league-wide consistency was behind the NFL's decision.
"All sideline personnel throughout the league wear similar apparel," McCarthy said this summer.
Arians’ wife, Chris, has been involved with CASA -- Court Appointed Special Advocates -- since 1998, when Bruce was hired as the Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach. She continued to volunteer as Arians moved coaching jobs from Cleveland to Pittsburgh back to Indianapolis and then to Arizona.
The hat, for which all proceeds are donated to Arians’ foundation, won’t become a staple on the sideline for the rest of the season.
“That was a one-time thing because of the check presentation and trying to raise some awareness,” Arians said.