Cardinals Hit Reset with Mike LaFleur at the Helm: Familiar Surroundings, Fresh Start
Mike LaFleur’s arrival in Arizona isn’t just a new chapter - it’s a return to a place that, in his mind, always felt like home. The Cardinals’ new head coach recalled a brief stint at the Dignity Health Training Center back in 2024, when wildfires forced the Rams to temporarily relocate to Phoenix.
LaFleur, then the Rams’ offensive coordinator, spent just three days in the building. But something clicked.
“I already know this building,” LaFleur said. “I got to walk around this building for three days.
I told [my wife] Lauren at the time about a year ago, ‘I’m going to be the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals someday.’ It just felt right.”
Now, that gut feeling has become reality. And while the Cardinals are coming off a tough 3-14 season, LaFleur isn’t dwelling on the past. His focus is squarely on building - a staff, a culture, and a team that can compete.
“Every year is a blank slate,” he said. “I’m not worried about what our record was.
The record last year, all that means is we have a higher draft pick. That’s all that really matters at that point.”
LaFleur’s task is clear: reshape a roster in need of identity and inject life into an offense that struggled to find consistency. Wide receiver Michael Wilson is optimistic about what LaFleur brings to the table - especially with his background in two of the NFL’s most innovative systems.
“He talked that this system is going to be built organically around the players,” Wilson said. “But I’m sure he’s going to take and sprinkle in a lot of the McVay system and the Shanahan system.”
For a young offense looking to find its rhythm, that’s music to their ears. Wilson pointed to the way players in those systems often flourish - not just in production, but in confidence and speed.
“It seems like all those guys that play for those organizations play really well and maximize their playability and their play speed, and honestly, turn into superstars,” he added. “I’m just excited to get somebody from that tree, and hopefully they can bring some of that here.”
LaFleur knows the work ahead won’t be easy. But he’s not backing down from the challenge. The focus now is assembling the right staff, building chemistry, and laying the foundation for a turnaround.
“You go right back to work,” he said. “I’m just concerned about building this staff and getting to work with these guys so that when the time does come, we’re putting our best foot forward to go win football games and hopefully update that back wall.”
Rams Face Offseason of Reflection as Veterans Weigh Futures
In Los Angeles, the offseason is bringing more questions than answers - especially for a few of the Rams’ cornerstone veterans. Head coach Sean McVay acknowledged that tackle Rob Havenstein and tight end Tyler Higbee are taking time to evaluate their futures, much like quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“I think it’s very similar to Matthew… Give them a little bit of time, let them digest, unpack the emotions of where they’re at,” McVay said. “Whether they continue to play, or whether they don’t want to play anymore, they’ve been legacy players, they’ve been legacy human beings, more importantly.”
It’s clear the Rams are giving their veterans the space they need. General manager Les Snead echoed that sentiment when asked about Stafford’s status.
“We’re going to let Matthew decide,” Snead said. “I think we’ve had productive conversations with him, so we’re going to give him his space… to recover, rejuvenate, and then determine, ‘Hey, do we want to get back on this horse again?’”
The Rams have long leaned on these players - not just for what they bring on the field, but for the leadership and stability they provide in the locker room. Whether they return or not, their impact on the franchise is undeniable.
Klint Kubiak’s Super Bowl Focus Comes First - Even as Raiders Job Awaits
Klint Kubiak may be headed to Las Vegas after the Super Bowl, but for now, the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator is locked in on one thing: bringing home a Lombardi Trophy.
“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s really all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak said. “I’m excited about this week, excited about this game… We’re all so focused on this game and our players deserve all of our attention.”
That’s been the message from head coach Mike Macdonald as well - appreciation for Kubiak’s work and growth, but a laser focus on finishing the job in front of them.
“It’s a little bittersweet because he’s such a great person and a great coach,” Macdonald said. “But we have a lot of great coaches… We want Seattle to be a place where people want to come - not just players, but coaches too.”
Macdonald emphasized that any conversations about staff changes will wait until after the Super Bowl. Right now, it’s all about the task at hand.
Kubiak’s impact in Seattle hasn’t gone unnoticed. Quarterback Sam Darnold, who worked with Kubiak in 2023, praised his preparation, honesty, and relentless work ethic.
“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said. “The things that I learned when I was with Klint in ’23 just schematically… He wakes up at insane hours.
He gets to the facility at 4, 4:30 in the morning, and he’s there later than anyone. He’s just a grinder.
He loves football.”
Rookie wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba echoed that sentiment, highlighting Kubiak’s ability to tailor schemes to his players’ strengths.
“I think him understanding his players and what they’re good at, maybe what they’re not good at, and putting his players in great position to succeed… the system he’s run has had great success for a long time,” Smith-Njigba said.
Kubiak may be on his way out, but his fingerprints are all over Seattle’s offensive resurgence. And if the Seahawks raise the trophy on Sunday, his final act in the Pacific Northwest will be one to remember.