By Blessing Nweke
The Arizona Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as head coach on Sunday, turning to a division rival’s offensive coordinator in an effort to lift the franchise from the bottom of the NFC West. The announcement ends a nearly four-week coaching search following the dismissal of Jonathan Gannon.
LaFleur, 38, replaces Gannon, who was fired on Jan. 5 after going 15-36 over three seasons, including a 3-14 campaign last year. The younger brother of Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, he spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, where he helped oversee the NFL’s most productive offense in 2025.
The Rams averaged nearly 400 total yards and more than 30 points per game, advancing to the NFC championship before losing 31-27 to the Seattle Seahawks, one game short of the Super Bowl. Arizona saw LaFleur’s system up close during the season, when Los Angeles scored a combined 82 points in two lopsided wins over the Cardinals.
Before joining the Rams, LaFleur served as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2021 and 2022 and worked under 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan in Cleveland, Atlanta and San Francisco, building a résumé rooted in modern, quarterback-friendly offenses.
LaFleur inherits a roster with promising pieces, including All-Pro tight end Trey McBride, rookie standout receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and veteran edge rusher Josh Sweat. Arizona also owns the No. 3 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.
The biggest uncertainty surrounds quarterback Kyler Murray. The former No. 1 overall pick has played seven seasons in Arizona but reached the playoffs only once. Murray appeared in just five games last season because of a foot injury and remains under a $230.5 million contract through 2028.
LaFleur faces a steep challenge rebuilding in an NFC West that sent three teams to the playoffs and will feature a Super Bowl-bound Seahawks squad on Feb. 8.
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