The Arizona Cardinals have officially named Mike LaFleur as their head coach, signaling a strategic move to enhance their competitiveness in the NFC West. This decision concludes a nearly month-long selection process as the franchise looks to recover from several difficult seasons.
At 38 years old, LaFleur brings a fresh yet seasoned perspective to the role, having served as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator for three seasons. He succeeds Jonathan Gannon, who was relieved of his duties on January 5 after accumulating a 15-36 overall record, including a 3-14 finish in the most recent season.
In expressing enthusiasm for his new role, LaFleur stated, "I couldn't be more excited to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and am deeply grateful to owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort for this opportunity." He added that his familiarity with the NFC and respect for the team's talent and resilience motivate him to commence his tenure with vigor.
During LaFleur's time with the Rams, Los Angeles fielded the NFL's highest-ranked offense in 2025, averaging close to 400 yards and over 30 points per game. Their campaign culminated in an NFC championship appearance, narrowly missing advancement to the Super Bowl after a close loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cardinals' management had multiple opportunities to evaluate LaFleur’s offensive strategies firsthand during the season, notably in two decisive matches where his Rams showcased their offensive potency by scoring a combined 82 points against Arizona. LaFleur's coaching pedigree is further highlighted by his prior offensive coordinator role with the New York Jets and formative experiences alongside Kyle Shanahan in various NFL programs.
Unlike some more publicized hiring pursuits, Arizona executed a predominantly discreet coaching search process. Reportedly, the team engaged with several candidates, including Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, and Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Owner Michael Bidwill reflected positively on the vetting process, emphasizing the quality of discussions with a diverse candidate pool and recognizing LaFleur's distinctive qualifications to lead the team forward.
LaFleur inherits a roster featuring promising figures such as All-Pro tight end Trey McBride, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., and veteran edge rusher Josh Sweat. Additionally, the Cardinals hold the third overall selection in the upcoming April draft.
General Manager Monti Ossenfort commended LaFleur's exposure to some of football's premier coaching minds and his contributions to high-achieving teams, underscoring his understanding of the demands and components of a winning franchise.
One significant uncertainty facing the new coach involves the status of quarterback Kyler Murray. The 28-year-old has been with Arizona since being drafted first overall in 2019, but his tenure has yielded only a single playoff appearance, ending in a wild-card loss to the Rams in 2021.
Following Gannon's dismissal, Ossenfort provided minimal clarity on Murray's future, noting contractual commitments exist for Murray, backup Jacoby Brissett, and Kedon Slovis. He alluded to offseason timing being more appropriate for such discussions without committing to specific plans.
Murray's recent season was limited to five games due to a foot injury, during which he threw for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. His current contract spans $230.5 million across five years, carrying through 2028. Brissett started the closing 12 games of the previous season with statistics including 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, though the team achieved only one win in his starts.
The NFC West remains a demanding and high-performing division, with the Cardinals' 14 losses in the last season exceeding the combined losses of rivals such as the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers. Each of these competitors advanced at least to the divisional round of the playoffs, with the Seahawks set to compete in the Super Bowl against the Patriots.