The Arizona Cardinals have made a bold move to reset their franchise trajectory, hiring Mike LaFleur as their new head coach on a five-year deal. After a rough 3-win season in 2025, Arizona didn’t waste time turning the page - and they turned it with conviction, prying LaFleur away from the division rival Los Angeles Rams.
This isn’t just a coaching change - it’s a statement. LaFleur, the architect behind the Rams’ top-ranked offense in both scoring and total yards last season, now steps into the spotlight in Glendale. It’s a high-stakes hire, but one that signals the Cardinals are ready to rebuild from the ground up, starting with a fresh offensive identity.
LaFleur’s rise through the NFL ranks has been steady and impressive. He’s part of the ever-growing Sean McVay coaching tree, which has become something of a hotbed for future head coaches.
Before lighting it up in L.A., LaFleur served as the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets and held key offensive roles with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and Atlanta. He’s been around some of the best offensive minds in the game - and now, he gets his own shot at building something in Arizona.
This hire also brings a bit of family flair to the NFC, with Mike now joining his brother Matt LaFleur, the head coach in Green Bay, in the NFL’s head coaching fraternity. Interestingly, it’s Green Bay where former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has landed - now serving as the Packers’ defensive coordinator after being let go by Arizona following a 15-36 run over two seasons.
The ripple effects of LaFleur’s hiring are already being felt around the league, particularly in the NFC West. The Cardinals will now face off against LaFleur’s former boss, Sean McVay, twice a year - a matchup that just got a lot more intriguing. And with Arizona making their move, the Las Vegas Raiders are now the last team still searching for a head coach.
That search appears to be zeroing in on Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The Raiders reportedly held a second interview with Kubiak over the weekend, and the buzz is that it went well. Kubiak had previously been linked to the Cardinals job, but with Arizona off the board, Las Vegas may now be his next stop.
Kubiak’s name has gained steam in recent weeks, especially after reports surfaced that the Raiders had initially targeted John Harbaugh following his exit from the Ravens - a pursuit that ended when Harbaugh took the Giants job. That pivot has now put Kubiak in pole position to take over in Vegas.
Tom Brady, who owns a minority stake in the Raiders, has had a front-row seat to Kubiak’s work, calling Seattle’s last two games for Fox. If the Raiders do land Kubiak, they’ll have to wait until after the Super Bowl to officially bring him aboard, as he’ll be coaching on the Seahawks' sideline in the big game. There’s also talk that Kubiak could bring some of Seattle’s staff with him to Las Vegas - a potential culture shift for a team still trying to find its post-McDaniels identity.
But for now, the spotlight’s on Arizona. The Cardinals have made their move, and they’ve made it with purpose.
Mike LaFleur is in, and with him comes a new vision for a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral. The NFC West just got a little more competitive - and a lot more interesting.