Cardinals Hire Rams Offensive Coordinator Mike Lafleur As Next Head Coach

The Arizona Cardinals have their next head coach.

The Cardinals officially hired Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as their next head coach Sunday afternoon. 

The two sides reportedly agreed to a five-year contract, though terms were not made available. News of the deal arrived shortly after reports the Las Vegas Raiders were working on a 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 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 2013-15. 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.

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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.

Murray, a 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, starting 12 games while Murray nursed a lingering foot injury. 

Finishing 3-14 landed Arizona the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft. If the Murray era is over in Arizona, the Cardinals 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. 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. 

Aside from a glaring need for stability at the quarterback position, the Cardinals also have other needs. They desperately need a young game-changer on the defensive side of the ball, as well as help along the offensive line. Top quarterback prospect Fernando Mendoza will almost assuredly be off the board when Arizona picks third. 

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, 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 LX with a win over the Rams in the NFC championship game. The NFC West was the only division in the league with three of four teams making the postseason.