Cardinals hire Rams OC Mike LaFleur as head coach

Tempe, Arizona – The Arizona Cardinals has appointed Mike LaFleur as its new head coach Los Angeles Rams The offensive coordinator agreed to a five-year contract, the team announced Sunday.

met the cardinals Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak on Saturday night, but he is expected to become the Raiders head coach after the Super Bowl, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, so Arizona turned to another offensive coordinator in the NFC West.

“We had the opportunity to speak with an outstanding group of candidates during this intensive process and received tremendous insight from each of them,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “At the end of that process, it was clear that Mike LaFleur has what it takes to lead this team to success as a head coach. He is highly intelligent with an exceptionally sharp, creative football mind. Mike is also a dynamic and innovative leader and is exactly the type of person we were looking for to guide our team as a head coach.”

Arizona initially interviewed LaFleur virtually at the start of the cycle and then hosted him for two days of interviews, which included dinner with team officials last Monday and Tuesday.

“I could not be more excited to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and I am extremely grateful to Michael [general manager] monty [Ossenfort] For this opportunity,” LaFleur said in a statement. “Having competed against them numerous times in the NFC in recent years, I know the type of talent and tenacity this team has and I can’t wait to get to Arizona to take the field.”

LaFleur, 38, replaces Jonathan Gannon, who was fired as Arizona’s coach on Jan. 5, prompting a nearly month-long search for Gannon’s replacement.

LaFleur is the sixth consecutive head coach hired by the Cardinals who does not have permanent NFL head coaching experience.

He comes to Arizona with coaching pedigree and experience as an offensive playcaller. He spent the last three seasons as the Rams’ offensive coordinator and was the New York Jets’ OC from 2021 to 2022. However, LaFleur did not call plays for the Rams, who reached the NFC Championship Game on the shoulders of the quarterback. Matthew StaffordWho threw for the fourth-most passing yards of his career in an MVP-caliber season.

Under the guidance of head coach Sean McVay, the Rams’ offense ranked first in points per game, yards per game, total yards per game, passing yards per game and first downs per game.

“Throughout his career, Mike has worked with some of the best and brightest coaches in football and has been a key contributor to highly successful teams,” Ossenfort said in a statement. “He understands what winning football looks like and what it takes to achieve it. Mike is a strong communicator with a detail-oriented teaching style who has always gotten the best out of his players and we are incredibly excited to bring him to the Cardinals.”

LaFleur’s older brother is Matt. green Bay Packers‘Chief coach.

LaFleur has deep familiarity with the NFC West, having spent three seasons with the Rams and four from 2017 to 2020. san francisco 49ers.

He inherits a Cardinals team that finished 3-14 last season, owns the third pick in the upcoming draft and a big question mark at quarterback. It is unknown whether or not kyler murrayArizona’s outgoing starter will remain with the team for the 2026 season despite already having $39.8 million guaranteed. Should Murray remain on the roster on day five of the 2026 league year, his $19.5 million base salary for 2027 becomes fully guaranteed.

LaFleur will lead a team whose offense dropped to the 19th-ranked unit in the league in 2025, a year after finishing 11th. The Cardinals’ defense ranked 27th last year after finishing 21st in 2024.

Now LaFleur looks to complete a quick turnaround, which Bidwill said he hopes will happen “in the first year, not the second year” in the prestigious NFC West, where three other teams made the playoffs this season.