Cardinals’ Coaching Search Highlights Uncertainty Around Kyler Murray’s Future
GLENDALE - It's been nearly four weeks since the Arizona Cardinals parted ways with head coach Jonathan Gannon, and the franchise still finds itself without a new leader on the sidelines. What began as a ten-team race to fill head coaching vacancies across the NFL is now down to just two: the Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders. And with most of the top names off the board, Arizona's search is shining a spotlight on a much deeper issue-uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Right now, the two leading candidates appear to be Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, and Mike LaFleur, who holds the same title with the Los Angeles Rams. Kubiak has been linked more closely to the Raiders, while LaFleur is emerging as a strong contender in Arizona.
But here's where things get interesting: despite the Cardinals reportedly honing in on a solid candidate, the franchise never seriously engaged with some of the bigger-name coaching options like John Harbaugh or Sean McDermott. That absence speaks volumes-not just about the coaching market, but about how the rest of the league views the current state of the Cardinals.
Former Cardinals star and future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and pulled no punches when asked why Arizona’s job remains open.
“The Arizona Cardinals need to figure out what their quarterback situation is for the future,” Watt said. “Right now they don’t have that solution, and that’s why the head coaching job is still vacant.”
Watt’s words carry weight. When he signed with Arizona, the team had a 23-year-old Kyler Murray fresh off his first Pro Bowl and knocking on the door of a 4,000-yard season.
The trajectory was upward, the promise real. That version of the Cardinals was enough to convince Watt to take a leap of faith.
But fast forward to 2026, and it’s a very different picture.
Murray is still in the building, but his future in Arizona is far from certain. Trade rumors have swirled for weeks, and the team’s hesitancy to commit to him long-term seems to be impacting the coaching search. For any incoming head coach, the biggest question isn’t just about scheme or culture-it’s about whether Kyler Murray is part of the future or part of the past.
And that’s no small decision. Even with a rocky injury history, Murray remains one of the most electric quarterbacks in the league when healthy.
His mobility, arm talent, and playmaking instincts can still change a game. But after seven seasons and zero playoff wins, the Cardinals appear to be leaning toward a reset.
Still, there’s a scenario worth considering: what if the new head coach wants to build around Murray rather than move on from him? That decision could shape not just the next few seasons, but the entire direction of the franchise. Whoever takes the job-LaFleur, Kubiak, or someone else-will need to make that call early and decisively.
As of now, Kubiak is reportedly in line to land either the Cardinals or Raiders job. If he ends up in Las Vegas, that could pave the way for LaFleur to take the reins in Arizona. But until the Cardinals figure out what they want to do under center, the head coaching search might continue to drag-and the rest of the league will keep watching.