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The Arizona Cardinals are targeting Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as their next head coach, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
Per the report, the two sides are working to finalize a five-year contract. News of the impending deal arrives shortly after reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are working on deal with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to become their next head coach. Kubiak reportedly interviewed with both the Cardinals and Raiders on Saturday.
The Cardinals were looking for a new leader for the third time in less than a decade. After another disappointing year in Arizona, the Cardinals fired Jonathan Gannon after his third straight losing season.
LaFleur will now be tasked with reversing the fortunes of a franchise that has just one playoff appearance in the past decade. The Cardinals haven’t seen consistent success since the first three years of the Bruce Arians era, when they won 34 regular-season games from 2013-2015. Arizona even made it to the NFC title game in 2015-16.
LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, has spent the last two seasons as the Rams' offensive coordinator. He was also the New York Jets' offensive coordinator for the 2021 season. Before his time with the Jets, the 38-year-old spent time coaching various offensive roles with the 49ers, Falcons and Browns under Kyle Shanahan.
[Get more Cardinals news: Arizona team feed]
The first major issue to tackle for LaFleur could be getting on the same page about potentially drafting a franchise quarterback with general manager Monti Ossenfort. After another tough, injury-plagued season in Arizona, the Cardinals could be ready to move on from quarterback Kyler Murray this offseason.
Murray, the former No. 1 overall pick, appeared in just five games in 2025, posting an 88.6 passer rating and 46.8 QBR. Jacoby Brissett filled in admirably for Murray this season, starting 12 games while Murray nursed a lingering foot injury, but he’s more of a stopgap quarterback at age 33.
Finishing 3-14 landed Arizona the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft. If the Murray era is over in Arizona, they could be in line to take another chance on a young quarterback prospect.
Following a 2-0 start, the bottom fell out for the Cardinals as they went on to lose 13 of the next 14 games. Arizona’s last win of the season came in early November over the Dallas Cowboys. The Cardinals ended the 2025 campaign losers of their final nine games under former head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Aside from a glaring need for stability at the quarterback position long-term, the Cardinals also have other needs LaFleur will inherit with the new gig. The Cardinals desperately need a young game-changer on the defensive side of the ball, as well as help along the offensive line. Presuming top quarterback prospect Fernando Mendoza is off the board when Arizona picks third, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese could be the best player remaining.
Playing in the NFC West, Arizona has lots of work to do in terms of catching its division rivals. Every other team in the Cardinals’ division made the postseason and won at least 12 games in doing so, with Seattle topping out at 14 wins and claiming the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Seahawks have since secured a bid to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 with a stunning win over the Rams in the NFC Championship. The NFC West was the only division in the league with three of four teams to make the postseason.
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Per the report, the two sides are working to finalize a five-year contract. News of the impending deal arrives shortly after reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are working on deal with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to become their next head coach. Kubiak reportedly interviewed with both the Cardinals and Raiders on Saturday.
The Cardinals were looking for a new leader for the third time in less than a decade. After another disappointing year in Arizona, the Cardinals fired Jonathan Gannon after his third straight losing season.
LaFleur will now be tasked with reversing the fortunes of a franchise that has just one playoff appearance in the past decade. The Cardinals haven’t seen consistent success since the first three years of the Bruce Arians era, when they won 34 regular-season games from 2013-2015. Arizona even made it to the NFC title game in 2015-16.
LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, has spent the last two seasons as the Rams' offensive coordinator. He was also the New York Jets' offensive coordinator for the 2021 season. Before his time with the Jets, the 38-year-old spent time coaching various offensive roles with the 49ers, Falcons and Browns under Kyle Shanahan.
[Get more Cardinals news: Arizona team feed]
The first major issue to tackle for LaFleur could be getting on the same page about potentially drafting a franchise quarterback with general manager Monti Ossenfort. After another tough, injury-plagued season in Arizona, the Cardinals could be ready to move on from quarterback Kyler Murray this offseason.
Murray, the former No. 1 overall pick, appeared in just five games in 2025, posting an 88.6 passer rating and 46.8 QBR. Jacoby Brissett filled in admirably for Murray this season, starting 12 games while Murray nursed a lingering foot injury, but he’s more of a stopgap quarterback at age 33.
Finishing 3-14 landed Arizona the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft. If the Murray era is over in Arizona, they could be in line to take another chance on a young quarterback prospect.
Following a 2-0 start, the bottom fell out for the Cardinals as they went on to lose 13 of the next 14 games. Arizona’s last win of the season came in early November over the Dallas Cowboys. The Cardinals ended the 2025 campaign losers of their final nine games under former head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Aside from a glaring need for stability at the quarterback position long-term, the Cardinals also have other needs LaFleur will inherit with the new gig. The Cardinals desperately need a young game-changer on the defensive side of the ball, as well as help along the offensive line. Presuming top quarterback prospect Fernando Mendoza is off the board when Arizona picks third, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese could be the best player remaining.
Playing in the NFC West, Arizona has lots of work to do in terms of catching its division rivals. Every other team in the Cardinals’ division made the postseason and won at least 12 games in doing so, with Seattle topping out at 14 wins and claiming the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Seahawks have since secured a bid to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 with a stunning win over the Rams in the NFC Championship. The NFC West was the only division in the league with three of four teams to make the postseason.
Continue reading...
