Analyst thinks Mike LaFleur could be a head coach fit for NFC team

6 days ago 2

The head coach hiring cycle is about to be in full swing after numerous teams moved on before the 2026 offseason.

One of the Los Angeles Rams' divisional foes, the Arizona Cardinals, was one of those teams after they fired head coach Jonathan Gannon following three unspectacular seasons. Arizona will likely cast a wide net to find its next head coach, but Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr writes that the Cardinals might not need to look further than the NFC West.

Among others, Orr named Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as a potential candidate for the Cardinals' job because of his ability to work with the talented Arizona offensive players — once they get a quarterback.

LaFleur, 38, has been the Rams’ offensive coordinator since 2023 and has been a contributor to one of the biggest offensive shifts we’ve seen in recent memory as L.A. transformed into a 13-personnel powerhouse. While Arizona is not necessarily equipped to succeed with that formation, the team could use a fresh look at its personnel to see how it could best unlock talented players such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. LaFleur is another intradivisional coach who could also assist the Cardinals in bridging the gap.

It would be a bold move for the Cardinals to bring in the young LaFleur, but other Sean McVay offensive assistants have performed well on other teams in the past, too. LaFleur's older brother, Matt LaFleur, has had a lot of success with the Green Bay Packers. Zac Taylor, Liam Coen and Kevin O'Connell have done well, too, with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings, respectively.

LaFleur has studied the Cardinals a lot in his three years with the Rams, too, as the two teams play twice a year. That institutional knowledge could go a long way in a coaching interview for both sides. He's also worked in the coveted Kyle Shanahan offense as well during his time as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Rams are focused on the playoffs right now, but it wouldn't be a surprise to hear about the Cardinals asking for an interview at some point in the next few weeks.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Analyst thinks Mike LaFleur could be a head coach fit for NFC team

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