TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur acknowledged a potentially advantageous outcome from a somewhat delayed start to assembling his coaching staff. Hired on February 1, LaFleur found many desirable assistant coaches had already accepted positions elsewhere, but believes the situation ultimately led him to a stronger team.
“Every day in January and early February, guys are getting plucked off,” LaFleur said, according to reporting by Darren Urban of azcardinals.com. “But there’s so many good coaches out there, so you just go through the process. You lose one but sometimes when you lose one it might be the best thing that ever happened because you end up finding the next one that’s a better fit for us. You learn some things about some guys you might not have interviewed. Challenges, but I can flip it and say it’s actually a good thing.”
LaFleur confirmed he secured Nathaniel Hackett as his offensive coordinator, a coach he specifically targeted. Hackett, previously the offensive coordinator for the Fresh York Jets and head coach of the Denver Broncos, had spent the 2025 season as a defensive analyst with the Green Bay Packers. LaFleur described Hackett as his sole focus for the position, stating, “I wanted him and nobody else,” as reported by Nick Brinkerhoff of USA TODAY.
On the defensive side, LaFleur opted to retain incumbent defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, after a period of evaluation. He stated he took the time to get to know Rallis and determined he was the best fit for the role.
The Cardinals recently announced LaFleur’s hiring, a five-year contract, following the departure of Jonathan Gannon. The move comes after LaFleur served as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, who reached the NFC Championship game in 2026.
Tight end Trey McBride expressed optimism about the new coaching staff, praising LaFleur’s energy and offensive track record. McBride told Bruce Murray of SiriusXM NFL Radio that LaFleur’s success with the Rams, where the offense ranked first in points and yards in 2025, was particularly encouraging. McBride too voiced enthusiasm for Hackett’s arrival, anticipating a potent Cardinals offense in the 2026 season.
LaFleur has already announced his intention to call offensive plays, potentially limiting Hackett’s direct play-calling responsibilities. The Cardinals are nearing completion of their coaching staff, according to LaFleur.
