GLENDALE – Massive news hit the NFL world on June 1st, when widely-considered best edge rusher Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. The addition will shake up the league, especially in the competitive NFC West for the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Mike LaFleur gave his first reaction to the trade on Tuesday to the media and seemingly seemed unbothered. Explaining that its hard to care about a move in June and not in September.
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Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur walks between offense and defense during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026. Syndication: Arizona Republic
LaFleur not concerned with Garrett:
“You’re not really concerned about that right now. It’s just the season’s too long. That stuff just flat-out doesn’t matter,” he said. The offseason is not time for him to worry about other teams’ moves, and he doesn’t want players thinking about other teams’ acquisitions.
“Why worry about that stuff right now? We’ve got enough stuff to worry about in terms of getting our systems in, making sure that these guys understand what we’re asking from them from a standard perspective, how hard they’re playing, and then techniques, you know, what we’re asking them to do.”
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort (left) talks with head coach Mike LaFleur during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026. Syndication: Arizona Republic
As the captain of the Cardinals ship, he’s trying to keep a brave face for his team and the fans in the face of the most dangerous addition a team could’ve made this offseason. Garrett is a game changing talent and joins a division with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the always game San Francisco 49ers. Arizona is the odd man out and the Garrett trade builds into the narrative that the franchise could go winless in 2026.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur during a pre-draft news conference on April 16, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
LaFleur isn’t worried about that noise or other teams’ moves. As a first-time head coach, he is trying to install his system and insert himself as a serious force in the coaching sphere. The 39-year-old inherited a roster that just went 3-14 and needs to rebuild the broken pieces. The process will take years and inner growth to get back to relevance for Cardinals. Understandable why LaFleur doesn’t seem worry about the Garrett deal.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
