The Arizona Cardinals‘ head coach search could come to an end soon. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports the Cardinals will conduct a second, in-person interview with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
LaFleur, 38, has quickly emerged as the new frontrunner for the vacancy at head coach. Following the Rams’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, the offensive coordinator is available to do interviews. Rapoport adds that the in-person interview will continue through Tuesday.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback reports that the Cardinals will take LaFleur out to dinner Monday night and interview him on Tuesday.
LaFleur is the younger brother of Matt LaFleur, the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are also former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon’s new team in 2026.
He also comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, which has been successful at producing head coaches. The Arizona Republic‘s Theo Mackie tweeted that LaFleur would be the fourth offensive coordinator under McVay to get a head coaching job. Matt LaFleur, Liam Coen, and Kevin O’Connell have combined for a 132-69-1 record and nine playoff appearances in 12 seasons.
If LaFleur is indeed the frontrunner in their coaching search, it’s just a matter of sealing the deal in the next two days.
What Would Hiring Mike LaFleur Look Like for the Cardinals
Hiring LaFleur would make it the sixth straight first-time head coaching hire. It’s worth noting that the Cardinals have had more success with offensive-minded head coaches. Ken Whisenhunt, Bruce Arians, and Kliff Kingsbury have taken the team to the playoffs at least once.
LaFleur would likely run the offense and call the plays on game days. It’s difficult to project how he’ll fare, given his poor run as the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets (2021-22). While he’d run the offense, a first-time coach is going to need an experienced defensive coordinator as the assistant head coach.
That’s where a coach like Vance Joseph or Raheem Morris could come into play. Morris is the more likely of the two coaches to land in Arizona in an assistant coach/defensive coordinator role. PHNX’s Johnny Venerable described the combination as a “home run for this franchise.”
In that situation, Morris becomes the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He’s had success in that role, serving as the defensive coordinator on their Super Bowl LVI-winning staff. His strong record with the Rams led to his previous head coaching stint with the Atlanta Falcons.
Morris carries parts of six seasons of previous head coaching experience, albeit with a 37-56 record.
Another intriguing element is that this potential hire is aimed at improving their results in the NFC West. The Cardinals went 0-6 in their division in 2025, a big reason why Gannon was ousted.
Cardinals Quarterback Situation Under Mike LaFleur
The first situation for the next head coach will be the quarterback position. While it’s not his call on Kyler Murray’s fate, the Cardinals are likely to trade him to get out of a $52.6 million cap hit (overthecap.com).
Should the team decide to move on, one such possibility would be San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones. Given that Jones is under contract for 2026, it’s unlikely San Francisco trades their backup within the division.
The other clear option is Malik Willis, who served as Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay. Willis might be the most sought-after free agent in the quarterback market. However, the younger LaFleur may be able to grab intel from his older brother on the former Packers quarterback and how he prepares every week.
Another decision the Cardinals need to consider is the long-term health of the quarterback position. Fernando Mendoza is the top prospect in the draft, but he’s a virtual lock to go to the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick. That leaves them in a difficult position about whether to target Ty Simpson in the draft at No. 3.
Cardinals Bring In Leading Candidate as Coaching Decision Draws Closer