The Arizona Cardinals spent the offseason reshaping the foundation of their offense, and the changes go well beyond a simple tweak or two. New names are now in charge, new pieces are lined up in the trenches, and the backfield has been overhauled in a way that could give the team a very different identity going into 2026.
A big part of that shift starts with the play-calling. Drew Petzing’s limitations as offensive coordinator showed up when the run game wasn’t humming.
If Arizona could lean on the ground attack, things stayed manageable. If not, the offense drifted into a one-dimensional look that defenses could diagnose without much trouble.
Mike LaFleur is meant to change that. After working under Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, and with his brother Matt LaFleur, he arrives with a reputation for bringing ideas that can sharpen both the run game and the passing game. The Cardinals are banking on that fresh approach to open things up and push the offense to another level.
The upgrade in front of the quarterback is just as important. Arizona was beaten up and outplayed in the trenches last season, and that showed up in how little the offense could consistently produce in 2025.
The team responded by signing Isaac Seumalo, one of the top guards available in free agency, then taking Chase Bisontis in the second round as a potential starter at right guard. Elijah Wilkinson is also expected to step in at right tackle.
That leaves fresh faces next to Paris Johnson Jr. and Hjalte Froholdt, with the Cardinals believing two of those three new additions have already improved the unit. It may not be the flashiest part of the offseason, but it’s the kind of work that can change everything for an offense.
The running back room got the same kind of reset. Injuries wrecked that group last year, and even before that there were concerns. James Conner is now on the wrong side of 30, and Trey Benson has had his own issues.
Arizona answered by signing Tyler Allgeier, the top available running back in free agency, and then using the No. 3 overall pick on Jeremiyah Love. That gives the Cardinals a very different pairing in the backfield: Allgeier brings the tough, physical element, while Love adds a dynamic dimension.
Put it all together and the Cardinals have a new play-caller, a reworked offensive line, and a remodeled running back room. That’s a major offensive makeover, and if it clicks, Arizona’s offense should be in business.
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Calais Campbell Family Tragedy Leaves Cardinals Fans Heartbroken
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The family released a statement mourning Nateal Campbell and remembering their father, Chuck, as the investigation continues. For Cardinals followers who watched Calais Campbell become one of the franchises most respected players, the focus now is far from football and squarely on a family facing an unthinkable tragedy, with more details still to come from the legal process. [Read more 🡒]