GLENDALE – After over nearly a four-week long wait, the Arizona Cardinals have hired Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to be their 44th head coach in franchise history. Since the firing of former head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5th, LaFleur has been the heavy betting favorite for the job.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, like owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort stated in their last press conference, the coaching search will not be a short process. Dozens of candidates interview, and a handful interviewed twice, including LaFleur.
LaFleur becomes the seventh Sean McVay coordinator/coach to be named to an NFL head coaching job, following in the footsteps of his brother Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the deal will be fore five years.
Jun 3, 2025; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur at press conference during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Cardinals hire LaFleur to be next head coach:
LaFleur will become the fourth-youngest head coach in the NFL, behind Seattle Seahawks Mike MacDonald, New Orleans Saints Kellen Moore and Buffalo Bills Joe Brady. Despite the young age, the 38-year-old has a 12-year NFL coaching career, being behind stellar minds like his brother, McVay, Dan Quinn, Robert Saleh and Kyle Shanahan.
Aug 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams assistant coach Mike LaFleur and head coach Sean McVay congratulate wide receiver Brennan Presley (81) after a touchdown during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
He has been a offensive coordinator in the league for the past five seasons, between the Rams and the New York Jets. LaFleur’s 2025 campaign was his best season yet, leading Los Angeles to the best offense in the NFL. Having MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford and best wide receiver Puka Nacua helps, but LaFleur truly helped unleashed the roster.
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
The Cardinals are in the toughest division in football. Arizona will need to adapt or die, and no better way to achieve that by hiring one of its rivals top coordinators. LaFleur comes from the learnings of fellow NFC West coaches in Shanahan and McVay. He understands their philosophy and could be the change the franchise needs.
LaFleur could aim to follow suit with former Rams offensive coordinator and current Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, and turn a league-worst Cardinals team into the playoffs for the first time in years.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
