The Arizona Cardinals are wasting no time in their search for a new defensive coordinator, and they’ve zeroed in on a familiar face. According to reports, the team has officially requested an interview with Rams assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant.
Pleasant’s name should ring a bell in Arizona - not just because of his NFL résumé, but because of his connection to newly hired Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur. The two worked together in recent years, and it’s clear there’s mutual trust and familiarity. That kind of continuity can be invaluable, especially when a new coaching staff is trying to establish a clear identity on both sides of the ball.
Pleasant, 38, has carved out a reputation as a sharp defensive mind with a particular knack for working with secondaries. His coaching journey began back in 2012 at Michigan, where he served as an assistant defensive backs coach. From there, he climbed the NFL ladder with stops in Cleveland and Washington before landing with the Rams in 2017 - a stint that helped solidify his reputation as a rising defensive coach.
While Pleasant has worked on both sides of the ball during his career, his bread and butter has been in the secondary. He served as the Rams’ cornerbacks coach before taking on a more expansive role with the Lions in 2021 as their defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.
That run ended midway through the 2022 season, but Pleasant didn’t stay on the sidelines for long. He joined the Packers as a consultant to close out that year, then returned to the Rams last offseason in a bigger role - this time with the title of assistant head coach.
Now, he’s in the mix for a coordinator role in Arizona, and it makes a lot of sense. The Cardinals are in the middle of a reset, and bringing in someone who not only understands LaFleur’s vision but also has experience developing young defensive talent could be a significant step forward. Pleasant is the second known candidate for the job, and while nothing is set in stone, his track record and ties to the new head coach make him a name to watch closely as Arizona shapes its new-look staff.