Mike LaFleur Set to Lead Cardinals: Can He Unlock Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson?
GLENDALE - The Arizona Cardinals are turning the page, and they’re doing it with offense in mind. Mike LaFleur, who spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, is expected to take over as the Cardinals’ next head coach. And if his track record in L.A. is any indication, Arizona is betting big on a system that can produce points - and a lot of them.
Under LaFleur’s guidance, the Rams cracked the top 10 in scoring offense twice, including finishing first in the league this past season. Sure, having an MVP front-runner like Matthew Stafford under center helps. But what really stood out was the production from his wideouts - particularly Puka Nacua and Davante Adams - both of whom thrived in LaFleur’s system.
Nacua led the league in receptions and finished second in receiving yards. Adams, meanwhile, hauled in a league-best 14 touchdowns.
That kind of output doesn’t happen by accident. LaFleur’s offense emphasized timing, spacing, and creating mismatches - especially in the red zone.
Now, the question is whether he can bring that same magic to Arizona, with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson waiting in the wings.
Can LaFleur Elevate Harrison Jr.?
Let’s start with Harrison. The former fourth overall pick came into the league with sky-high expectations, but his sophomore season was a mixed bag.
He played in just 12 games, finishing with 608 receiving yards and four touchdowns. That’s solid, but not quite the breakout fans were hoping for.
His 50 yards per game? That’s half of what Nacua averaged.
But here’s the thing - Harrison doesn’t have to be Nacua. At 6’3", 220 pounds, he’s built more like Davante Adams, and that’s where LaFleur can tap into his potential.
Adams didn’t light up the stat sheet in terms of yardage last season (789 yards), but his 14 touchdowns told the real story. The Rams consistently created one-on-one opportunities for him near the goal line, and Adams made defenses pay.
If LaFleur can scheme similar red zone looks for Harrison - isolating him against smaller corners, using his size and catch radius - there’s no reason he can’t become a double-digit touchdown threat. That kind of role could be exactly what Harrison needs to build confidence and consistency in Year 3.
Wilson’s Late-Season Surge
While Harrison’s numbers were modest, Michael Wilson quietly put together one of the most impressive second halves of the season in the entire league. Over the final eight games, Wilson racked up 775 receiving yards and six touchdowns - averaging nearly 97 yards per game. That pace would’ve ranked him third in the NFL, just 10 yards behind Nacua.
Wilson’s emergence wasn’t just about volume - it was about dominance. At 6’2", with strong hands and elite leaping ability, he made contested catches look routine. He became the first Cardinals receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season since DeAndre Hopkins in 2020 - and he did it in essentially half a season.
Physically, Wilson and Nacua are cut from the same cloth. Both have that blend of size, body control, and toughness over the middle that makes them a quarterback’s best friend.
LaFleur’s offense thrives on receivers who can win in space and after the catch, and Wilson checks every box. If he can pick up where he left off, he could be the centerpiece of Arizona’s passing attack.
The Quarterback Question
Of course, none of this works without someone to deliver the football. With Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona looking uncertain, the Cardinals are expected to lean on veteran Jacoby Brissett - at least for now.
He’s not the long-term answer, but he’s a smart, steady presence who can run an offense and help young receivers develop. Think of him as a bridge - one that could hold steady until Arizona finds its next franchise quarterback through the draft or a trade.
A New Era in the Desert
LaFleur didn’t call the plays in Los Angeles - Sean McVay held that title - but make no mistake, he was in the room where it happened. Three years under McVay gave him a front-row seat to one of the most innovative offensive minds in football. Now, LaFleur gets his shot to run the show.
The NFC West is no cakewalk - especially with McVay still in the division - but LaFleur has the tools to make Arizona competitive. If he can unlock Harrison’s red zone potential and keep Wilson trending upward, the Cardinals might just have one of the more intriguing young receiver duos in the league.
This is a franchise looking for a new identity. With LaFleur at the helm, that identity might finally be taking shape - fast, creative, and built around playmakers.