Cardinals Name Mike LaFleur as New Head Coach
The Arizona Cardinals have hired Mike LaFleur as their next head coach on a five-year contract, tapping the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator to lead a franchise that finished 3-14 last season. The 38-year-old LaFleur replaces Jonathan Gannon, who was fired January 5th after struggling with the team’s defensive approach.
LaFleur comes from the renowned Sean McVay coaching tree with significant experience as an offensive playcaller. He spent the last three seasons as the Rams’ offensive coordinator after serving as the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022. During his tenure in Los Angeles, the Rams’ offense ranked first in points per game, total yards per game, and multiple efficiency metrics under McVay’s guidance.
The Cardinals initially pivoted to LaFleur after meeting with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is expected to become the Raiders’ head coach following the Super Bowl. With LaFleur now in place, the Arizona Cardinals are signaling a clear commitment to addressing their offensive deficiencies—the unit ranked 19th last season, down significantly from 11th place in 2024.
LaFleur brings deep familiarity with the NFC West, having spent four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017 to 2020. His older brother, Matt LaFleur, serves as head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
Rebuilding Challenges Ahead
The Arizona Cardinals face substantial obstacles in their turnaround effort. The team owns the third overall draft pick but faces major uncertainty at the quarterback position with incumbent starter Kyler Murray’s future unclear. Murray has $39.8 million guaranteed for 2025, with his $19.5 million base salary for 2027 set to become fully guaranteed if he remains on the roster through the fifth day of the 2026 league year.
LaFleur inherits a roster with promising offensive weapons including tight end Trey McBride, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., and receivers Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. However, significant roster construction work remains needed, particularly along the offensive line and at the running back position.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill expressed hope for a quick turnaround, stating he expects improvement “in the first year, not in the second year.” The Arizona Cardinals will need to compete in a loaded NFC West division where the other three teams all made the playoffs this season.
LaFleur is the sixth consecutive head coach hired by Arizona without full-time NFL head coaching experience, continuing the franchise’s pattern of promoting from coordinator or college ranks.
