The Arizona Cardinals are back to the drawing board following head coach Jonathan Gannon’s firing on Monday.
When it comes to the pool of prospective candidates, there’s no shortage of options for general manager Monti Ossenfort to sift through, which he’s clearly already doing.
But which ones stand out above the rest?
A look at some of the more intriguing names out there the Cardinals could consider this head-coaching cycle:
Familiar faces
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings DC
No, Flores has not coached for the Cardinals. He has, however, interviewed for the head-coaching job in the past.
On top of getting an interview with Arizona in 2018 before Arizona landed on Steve Wilks, Flores also met with the Cardinals in 2023.
He ended up taking his name out for consideration despite reportedly being a finalist for the job and instead took the Minnesota Vikings’ opening at defensive coordinator.
He’s remained with Minnesota ever since, turning the defense into a top-three unit in total yards allowed per game while giving up the seventh-fewest points per game.
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos DC
Joseph is already being linked to the Cardinals this cycle as Arizona’s first known head-coaching interview.
The Broncos defensive coordinator will reportedly interview with the franchise at some point this week while his current team is on a bye for locking up the AFC’s top spot in the playoffs.
He spent four seasons in Arizona as the Cardinals DC under Kliff Kingsbury before being let go following 2022’s collapse.
Joseph was, however, interviewed for the head-coaching vacancy left behind by Kingsbury before the team landed on Gannon.
He ended up taking the Broncos’ DC job, where he’s found success. It was a return to Denver for Joseph, who went 11-21 as a head coach from 2017-18 before his firing.
New head-coaching blood
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks OC
Kubiak is another name being linked to the Cardinals this hiring cycle but was making this list regardless given what he’s done in Seattle.
And that’s before looking at the season wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has had and how Kubiak could potentially impact the trajectory of Arizona receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.
In his first year with the Seahawks, his unit was the eight-best offense while putting up the third-most points per game in the regular season.
As for Smith-Njigba, he paced the NFL in receiving yards (1,793), was fourth in receptions (119) and tied for sixth in touchdowns (10).
Kubiak clearly knew how to get his primary pass catcher the ball on a consistent basis.
Mike LaFleur, Los Angeles Rams OC
Anyone associated with Rams head coach Sean McVay or Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is likely going to be on someone’s radar sooner than later.
That’s where Mike LaFleur steps in.
Not only does he share the last name of one of them, he also shares the sideline with the other as Rams offensive coordinator.
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Since 2023, the Rams have rolled out a top-10 offense, highlighted by league-leading marks in total yards (402.2), passing yards (268.1) and points (30.5) per game this past season.
But how much of that success comes from quarterback Matthew Stafford and McVay?
Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers DC
Hafley, 46, has spent the past two seasons with the Packers.
His defense was just outside the top 10 in both total yards and points allowed but did produce a top-five unit in both metrics the year prior.
And while he doesn’t have NFL head-coaching experience, Hafley was the lead man at Boston College from 2020-23. He posted a 22-26 mark across that span.
Been there before
Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers DC
Another connection to the Cardinals’ search this offseason, Saleh knows the division well having worked for both the Seahawks (2011-13) and 49ers (2017-2020, 2025) throughout his career.
And while his 20-36 mark as the New York Jets’ head coach was less than stellar, Saleh gained plenty of experience in the role.
John Harbaugh, former Baltimore Ravens head coach
Harbaugh was squarely in the what-if category when compiling this list. Funny how things change during the hiring cycle!
Following his firing on Tuesday, he’s expected to have plenty of suitors this offseason.
That’s what happens when you’ve coached in one place for 18 seasons, won the AFC North six times, made the postseason 12 times, posted a 180-113 record and took home Super Bowl 47.
The Cardinals could turn a lot of heads if they can court Harbaugh this offseason. Just being in the mix would say something.
Kevin Stefanski, former Cleveland Browns head coach
Winning AP Coach of the Year in the dysfunction that is Cleveland at the very least deserves a look.
Stefanski did it not once but twice (2020, 2023), while making two trips to the postseason across his five years leading the Browns. He posted a 45-56 record.
And with the Browns decision to cut ties with the head coach on Monday, he’s out looking for a new place to call home.
But given the Cardinals have already seen a branch of the Stefanski tree in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, that might be a tough sell to the fanbase.
Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys head coach
McCarthy was a Super Bowl winner with the Packers and is 174-112-2 all-time as head coach between stints with Green Bay (2006-18) and the Dallas Cowboys (2020-24).
He’s also got a connection to the state, having attended Scottsdale Community College. He even played for the Fighting Artichokes. How about that for some random info?!
What if?
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State head coach
Don’t throw a pitchfork at me just yet!
Dillingham may have avoided the Michigan allure, but what about a high-profile job at the next level?
The fact that Arizona’s current training facility resides in Tempe — just a short drive from ASU — makes the job even more enticing.
That is if the Cardinals even come calling.
There’s no denying the turnaround Dillingham has put in motion as the Sun Devils’ lead man, posting a 22-17 mark after going 3-9 in his first year. Arizona has gotten a front row seat to it all.
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