The journey was full of turbulence, but the Cardinals landed in a safe place. With Mike LaFleur, they get a recognizable name, a young candidate with intriguing pedigree, and a head coach who knows the NFC West.
They could’ve done better. They could’ve done worse. They should’ve hired LaFleur after Tuesday’s interviews, if only for the optics.
Nevertheless, it’s finally over. After an exhaustive search that came with a lot of humility and rejection, the Cardinals finally have something to sell to an agitated fan base.
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So, who’s buying?
LaFleur is the younger brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. He has worked under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, who was reportedly very annoyed when LaFleur left him for Sean McVay, thereby taking Shanahan’s secrets to the Rams.
Now the Cardinals get access to inside intelligence on the 49ers and the Rams. They also get a candidate from the McVay lineage, one of the more prolific coaching trees in the NFL, spawning names like Zac Taylor, Kevin O’Connell and Liam Coen. At the very least, they have weakened a primary rival in the division.
They are also getting a first-time head coach who struggled as an offensive coordinator with the Jets, when he found himself working inside a dysfunctional organization without a real franchise quarterback.
So what are the Cardinals getting in LaFleur? A young man more than ready for the challenge, like the Suns found with Jordan Ott? Or someone who comes with a learning curve and growing pains? And what is he getting from them?
It is crucial that LaFleur fills his coaching staff with real experience. Does he have that kind of pull and enough contacts to make it happen this late in the game? And what does he think about the quarterback situation in Arizona?
Some media members have suggested that a Kyler Murray reunion might be on the table with the right kind of head coaching hire. I believe the divorce is all but final. But LaFleur will certainly be asked about the quarterback situation in Arizona during his introductory press conference, and his response will be fascinating.
The Cardinals understand the risks and so do we. The franchise does this all the time. They haven’t hired a head coach with real experience since Dennis Green in 2004. Occasionally, they hit gold, like Bruce Arians and early Ken Whisenhunt. Oftentimes, they hit rock bottom and keep on digging.
I believe LaFleur represents a minor victory for the organization, a step forward, a logical bet at a time when the odds are stacked against them. I also know the Cardinals were the least appealing job and the last team to hire a coach in 2026 for many different reasons. And for the sake of the fan base, that trend needs to end.
Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.
Follow @danbickley
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