Mike LaFleur Takes Over in Arizona: Can He Help Kyler Murray Reignite His Career?
GLENDALE - The Arizona Cardinals have taken their first big swing of the offseason, naming former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as their next head coach. At just 38 years old, LaFleur steps into his first head coaching role with more than a few familiar faces staring back at him across the NFC West. He’ll now be competing twice a year with two of his biggest influences - Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan - in what’s arguably one of the most competitive divisions in football.
So, the question now becomes: Who’s under center when LaFleur kicks off this new era in Arizona? And more specifically, is Kyler Murray still the guy?
Kyler Murray’s Future in the Desert
There’s been plenty of chatter this offseason about whether Arizona might move on from the former No. 1 overall pick. At 28, Murray’s coming off another injury-plagued season, and some around the league wondered if the Cardinals might be ready to hit the reset button. But with LaFleur now in the building, that calculus might change.
LaFleur is a quarterback-friendly coach, molded in the same offensive lab that’s helped elevate guys like Matthew Stafford, Brock Purdy, and even Baker Mayfield. If there’s anyone who can help Murray rediscover his Pro Bowl form, it’s someone from that Shanahan-McVay coaching tree. And if LaFleur can get even a fraction of the Stafford-level production from Murray, the Cardinals might be a lot closer to relevance than most think.
A Rocky Road Back
Murray’s last four seasons have been anything but smooth. After tearing his ACL late in 2022, he spent most of the following year rehabbing before returning in Week 10.
He managed to stay healthy through 2024, showing flashes of the dynamic playmaker that once had the league buzzing. But just when it seemed like he was fully back, a foot injury in 2025 limited him to just five games.
Still, let’s not forget who Kyler Murray was when things were clicking. In his first three seasons, he played in 96% of the Cardinals’ games, made two Pro Bowls, and averaged nearly 3,827 passing yards and 26 touchdowns per season. That version of Murray - the one who thrived under offensive-minded head coach Kliff Kingsbury - looked like a franchise cornerstone.
The question now is whether that version still exists, physically and mentally. The injuries have piled up, and the offense around him has changed. But pairing him with a coach like LaFleur, who knows how to simplify reads, create space, and get quarterbacks into rhythm, could be exactly what Murray needs to get back on track.
The Brissett Backup Plan
There’s also the Jacoby Brissett factor. The veteran quarterback was thrown into the fire this past season and did what he could, but the results weren’t pretty. He finished 1-11 as a starter - a tough stat line for a team that insists it’s trying to contend.
If Arizona were to roll into 2026 with Brissett as the starter, it would send a clear message: this is a rebuild year. A stopgap season. That’s not what fans want to hear, and it’s certainly not what LaFleur - or the front office - should be aiming for in Year 1 of a new regime.
Keeping Murray gives the Cardinals a fighting chance. It gives the fanbase something to believe in. And it gives LaFleur a high-upside quarterback who, when healthy and supported, has already proven he can play at a high level in this league.
What’s Next?
There’s still plenty to be sorted out in Arizona - from who will call plays (LaFleur has yet to confirm if he’ll take on that responsibility himself) to how the roster will be reshaped in the coming months. But one thing is clear: the Cardinals’ future hinges on the quarterback position. And if Mike LaFleur believes he can help Kyler Murray recapture the magic, then Arizona might be closer to turning the corner than most people realize.
This isn’t just a new chapter for the Cardinals - it’s a full reset. And how they handle the Kyler Murray question could define the direction of the franchise for years to come.