The Arizona Cardinals announced their 2026 coaching staff under new head coach Mike LaFleur on Friday.
A look at the new faces joining the ranks on top of those returning for another go:
Cardinals’ 2026 coaching staff
Offensive coordinator — Nathaniel Hackett
Hackett takes over for the departed Drew Petzing, who is now the OC for the Detroit Lions.
“With Nathaniel, when you combine his experience with his high level of offensive production, it’s hard to think of anyone better suited for this position,” LaFleur said in a press release. “I’ve never worked with him but know he’s definitely one of the top offensive minds in the league and cannot wait to see what he can do with the playmakers we have on this offense.”
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Hackett served as the Packers OC for three seasons (2019-21) under Matt LaFleur, Mike’s brother and Green Bay’s head coach. Hackett was also on the Packers’ staff last year as a defensive analyst.
The new Cardinals OC brings with him plenty of experience from multiple NFL stops. He will not call plays in Arizona, however. That duty falls to his head coach.
Defensive coordinator — Nick Rallis
Rallis gets another run in Arizona following three seasons under former head coach Jonathan Gannon.
He’s got a lot to prove in his return after his unit gave up the sixth-most yards (357.7) and fourth-most points (28.7) per game last season.
“Nick is someone I have always had great respect for, especially going against him in the division over the last three years,” LaFleur said. “During the interview process, I expressed that he was someone I held in high regard and would be very interested in talking to about the position.
“I’ve had the chance to meet with him and pick his brain over the last couple weeks and am even more impressed than I was before. I know the respect he has from coaches around the league and especially with the players on this team and that says a lot to me.”
Special teams coordinator — Michael Ghobrial
Ghobrial spent the past two seasons as the New York Giants’ special teams coordinator.
“I have great familiarity and regard for him from our time with the Jets and I know he’s only continued to grow stronger as a coach in the subsequent years with the Giants,” LaFleur said. “The enthusiasm he brings is infectious, which is critical for all coaches but especially on special teams. As a team, we will definitely benefit from his energy and experience.”
He got his NFL start with the Lions through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship in 2017.
Ghobrial worked alongside LaFleur with the New York Jets as the assistant special teams coordinator from 2021-22.
He takes over for Jeff Rodgers, who is now in Buffalo in the same capacity.
Cornerbacks coach — Zac Etheridge
Etheridge is coming off one season with the Miami Hurricanes as their defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach.
He played safety at Auburn and won a national championship in the 2010-11 season. He started his coaching career in 2012 as a graduate assistant at Penn State and has been coaching defensive backs since 2016.
This will be Etheridge’s first taste of the NFL.
Offensive line coach — Justin Frye
Frye re-ups with the Cardinals after spending last year with the franchise.
It was a rough first go for Frye, whose offensive line took a noticeable step back from the two years prior.
He’s got a good connection with Paris Johnson Jr. and Jon Gaines II from their college days. There are going to be a lot of eyes on his position group after missing the mark in 2025.
Assistant offensive line coach — Chris Cook
Cook is another familiar face running it back with the Cardinals after spending the past three seasons in Arizona.
Quarterbacks coach — Matt Schaub
Schaub comes over with plenty of NFL playing experience behind 16 seasons and four franchises.
The same can’t be said about his prior coaching experience, though. His lone coaching stop was as a football analyst with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.
Schaub as a player crossed paths with LaFleur in Atlanta in 2016. LaFleur served as an offensive assistant during their one season together.
Wide receivers coach — Tony Sorrentino
Sorrentino comes aboard after spending the past four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant wide receivers coach. He worked closely with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
The Cardinals WRs coach worked with Hackett for a season in Jacksonville (2015). Sorrentino served as an assistant WRs coach and offensive quality control. Hackett was the team’s QBs coach during their time together.
Tight ends coach — Jake Moreland
Moreland served as a tight ends coach for both the Denver Broncos (2022) and Houston Texans (2023-25) before linking up with the Cardinals this offseason.
He also worked under LaFleur previously as an assistant OL coach with the Jets in 2021.
Running backs coach — Matt Merritt
Merritt is coming off two seasons with the Miami Hurricanes as their running backs coach.
This marks his first taste of NFL coaching.
Pass game specialist — Connor Senger
Senger will be retained in the same role by Arizona.
He interviewed for several open offensive coordinator jobs this offseason, including for the Seattle Seahawks.
Senger will be entering his fifth season with the Cardinals and second as pass game specialist.
Rod Wilson — Inside linebackers
Wilson spent the past four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He most recently served as their outside linebackers coach (2024-25) after working as a defensive assistant the two years prior (2022-23).
Matt Feeney — Outside linebackers
Feeney is back in the mix after serving in the same capacity last year. He spent the previous three seasons (2022-24) as a defensive assistant with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Defensive line coach — Pete Kwiatkowski
A Texas Longhorns assistant since 2021, Kwiatkowski served as defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach for the Longhorns. He had a similar dual title with the Washington Huskies from 2014-19 and had followed head coach Chris Petersen there from Boise State.
In Idaho, he served as defensive line coach (2006-09) and defensive coordinator (2010-13) under Pedersen.
Assistant defensive line coach — Alec Osborne
Osborne returns after spending 2025 as a defensive quality control coach for the Cardinals. Before his time in Arizona, he was an inside linebackers coach for Louisiana-Monroe in 2024.
Defensive backs — Cristian Garcia
Garcia returns in a new role after working with the inside linebackers last year.
He is set for his second season in Arizona after serving the Dallas Cowboys in 2024 as an assistant defensive backs coach.
Garcia also worked in three defensive capacities for the Washington Commanders from 2021-23.
Brett Ekkens — Offensive quality control coach
This marks the first NFL taste for Ekkens after a two-year run as head coach of Tiffin University.
Brent Jackson — Defensive quality control coach
Jackson spent the past four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He started out as a Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow in 2022 before being elevated to defensive quality control from 2023-25.
Jay Razzano — Assistant to the head coach
Razzano got his start with the Cardinals in 2021 as a seasonal equipment manager. He served as an assistant to the head coach in 2022 before taking over the title of coaching assistant in 2023. He worked with Arizona’s defensive backs last year.
Kenny Bell — Director of football strategy
Bell is entering his eighth season with the team and fourth as director of football strategy.
Sam Sewell — Assistant special teams coach
Sewell is back for his fourth season with the team after originally being hired in 2023.
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