Cardinals hire Rams offensive coordinator LaFleur as new head
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The Arizona Cardinals hired Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as their new head coach. Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
The Arizona Cardinals' drawn-out and at times frustrating search for a new head coach ended Sunday when the team hired Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
The big picture: LaFleur takes over a struggling team desperately in need of a new direction — the Cards set a franchise record for losses last year.
- The Cards fired third-year head coach Jonathan Gannon last month after a 3-14 season.
State of play: The Cards and LaFleur agreed to a five-year contract Sunday, numerous media outlets reported.
- LaFleur spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Rams and held the same position for the New York Jets for two years before that.
- His brother is Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, making them the second pair of brothers with current head coaching jobs in the NFL.
Zoom in: Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay, not LaFleur, largely handled the offensive play-calling for the Rams, who led the NFL this season in points and total yards.
- But he shined as a play-caller against the Cardinals in the Rams' December victory over Arizona.
Between the lines: "LaFleur didn't call plays for the Rams but helped shape the Rams into one of the elite offenses in the NFL," Drake Bentley from The Sporting News wrote.
- Sports Illustrated's Brock Vierra called LaFleur perfect for the job, writing that his knowledge of McVay's passing system and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's run system — LaFleur worked under Shanahan for years — gives him "the blueprints to combine the two into a system that easily disguises the run and the pass."
What they're saying: "Having competed against them in the NFC so many times in recent years, I know the type of talent and toughness the team has and cannot wait to get to Arizona to hit the ground running," LaFleur said.
The intrigue: Arizona was one of 10 teams in search of a new head coach this season and was the last to make a hire after being repeatedly passed up by candidates.
- The Cards interviewed LaFleur last Tuesday but subsequently pursued Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, per the Arizona Republic, who instead went to the Las Vegas Raiders.
- They were also spurned by several other candidates who either declined interviews or went to other teams after meeting with the Cards.
What we're watching: There's widespread expectation that the Cards and longtime quarterback Kyler Murray will part ways.
- Arizona has the third pick in this year's NFL Draft.