GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals are bringing Mike LaFleur in for an in-person interview per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, and isn’t a courtesy call. It’s a sign that they are looking to make a splash for their new head coach.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!#Rams OC Mike LaFleur is scheduled to meet with the #AZCardinals for a second, in-person interview today and tomorrow, sources say. An intriguing candidate. pic.twitter.com/gYJVWWsQ1O
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 26, 2026
Aug 14, 2025; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur reacts during a joint practice at the Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Would Mike LaFleur be a good hire for the Arizona Cardinals?
Mike LaFleur arrives with momentum even after the Rams’ season-ending loss to Seattle in the NFC Championship on Sunday, a moment that typically opens the league’s most competitive hiring window. Timing matters, and so does lineage. LaFleur isn’t just another coordinator candidate; he’s part of the McVay coaching ecosystem that has quietly reshaped how offenses are built, taught, and sustained. All of his characteristics matter for an Arizona franchise searching for identity.
Jun 14, 2023; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay (left) and offensive coordinator LaFleur during minicamp at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
There’s also a psychological layer here. Sean McVay, who has been famously dominant against Arizona and a trusted football mind across the league, has been the one to help guide Mike LaFleur. Add in that football runs in LaFleur’s background, with his brother Matt being the head coach in Green Bay, and you get a coach who has been around by two of the NFL’s most consistent organizational models. LaFleur’s units have been efficient where stability is created: on early downs, with play-action usage, and third-down sequencing. Those aren’t flashy metrics, but they’re the difference between teams that get anywhere from 3-7 wins and the playoff contenders. Fans see points; front offices see process.
Aug 16, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur reacts against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
For Arizona fans, the Cardinals are about more than the next season. It’s about finally choosing a direction that feels like the right way forward and committing to it. Hiring a coach who understands modern offense, values adaptability, and brings credibility. Mike LaFleur checks those boxes, and that’s why this interview matters now and later.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
