The former Rams offensive coordinator embarks on the tough mission of lifting the weakest team in the NFC West
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals hire Mike LaFleur as their new head coach, and the offensive coordinator of Los Angeles Rams will sign a five-year contract, sources informed Adam Schefter of ESPN on Sunday.
Los Cardinals They met with the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, Klint Kubiakon Saturday night, but with Kubiak expected to become the head coach of the Raiders after the super bowl, Arizona he opted for another offensive coordinator from the NFC West.
Arizona They initially interviewed LaFleur virtually early in the process and then hosted him for a two-day interview, which included a dinner with team executives, on Jan. 26-27.
Mike LaFleur, 38 years old, will replace Jonathan Gannonwho was fired as Arizona’s head coach on Jan. 5, kicking off a search for his replacement that lasted more than a month.
LaFleur is the sixth consecutive head coach hired by the Cardinals who does not have full-time coaching experience in the NFL.
LaFleur arrives at Arizona with experience as an offensive coordinator and with a pedigree as a coach. He spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Rams and was offensive coordinator of the New York Jets from 2021 to 2022. However, LaFleur was not the one calling the plays for the Ramswho reached the final of the National Conference (NFC) thanks to quarterback Matthew Staffordwho threw for the fourth-most passing yards of his career in an MVP-worthy season.
The offensive of the Ramsunder the direction of the head coach Sean McVayranked first in points per game, total yards per game, total yards per play, passing yards per game, and first downs per game.
LaFleur’s older brother, Matt, is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
LaFleur has a deep knowledge of the NFC West, having spent three seasons with the Rams and four seasons, from 2017 to 2020, with the San Francisco 49ers.
LaFleur inherits a team of Cardinals who finished last season with a 3-14 record, owns the third overall pick in the draft and has a big unknown at the quarterback position. It is still unknown if Kyler Murraythe starting quarterback of Arizonawill remain on the team for the 2026 season, despite already having $39.8 million guaranteed for 2025. If Murray remains on the roster on the fifth day of the 2026 league year, his base salary of $19.5 million for 2027 will be fully guaranteed.
LaFleur will lead a team whose offense declined in 2025, dropping to 19th best in the league, a year after ranking 11th. The defense of Cardinals it ranked 27th last year, after having been 21st in 2024.
Now LaFleur embarks on the challenge of making a quick turnaround, something owner Michael Bidwill hopes will happen “in year one, not year two,” in the competitive NFC West, where the other three teams managed to qualify for the playoffs this year.
