Cardinals name Mike LaFleur new head coach

Mike LaFleur (YouTube)

The Arizona Cardinals have named Mike LaFleur of Mount Pleasant, Michigan as their new head coach according to Rogers Sportsnet on Sunday. Mike LaFleur is the brother of Matt LaFleur, who is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.

Mike Lafleur takes over from Jonathan Gannon of Cleveland, Ohio, who was fired on January 5. The Cardinals were tied for the worst team in the NFL this past season at three wins and 14 losses. They were tied with the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders. It is interesting that Gannon has since been named the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. Gannon takes over from Jeff Hafley of Montvale, New Jersey, who has since been named the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

This is Mike LaFleur’s first head coaching job. He has been involved in the National Football League as an assistant coach since 2014. LaFleur’s jobs have been an offensive intern with the Cleveland Browns (2014), as an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons (2015 and 2016),  a passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach with the San Francisco 49ers for four years from 2017 to 2020, the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets from 2021 to 2022, and the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams from 2023 to 2025. While with the Rams this past season, Los Angeles led the NFL with 518 points.

The LaFleur brothers are the second brothers to be active head coaches in the NFL. Jim Harbaugh is the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, and John Harbaugh is the head coach of the New York Giants.