"Arizona announced the hiring of 38-year-old Mike LaFleur on Sunday, ending a search that looked similar to previous ones by the Cardinals. As they were in 2023 when they hired Jonathan Gannon, they were once again the last team to make a hire after nine other head coaching vacancies were filled. And for the sixth time in the last 19 years, they hired a first-time NFL coach."
"They also kept their pattern of alternating between offensive- and defensive-minded head coaches. LaFleur spent the last five seasons as an offensive coordinator, two with the New York Jets and three with the Los Angeles Rams. Gannon was a defensive-minded coach. He was preceded by Kliff Kingsbury, an offensive coach, who was preceded by Steve Wilks, a defensive coach, who was preceded by Bruce Arians, an offensive coach."
"Weinfuss: LaFleur is highly regarded around the league for his offensive acumen. And he represents a branch of the Sean McVay tree, which carries a great deal of cache. LaFleur is the fourth McVay OC to become a head coach, joining Mike's brother Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers, Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings and Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The three others led their teams to the playoffs."
The Arizona Cardinals hired 38-year-old Mike LaFleur as head coach on a five-year contract, ending a search that left them the last team to hire among NFL vacancies. The team has alternated between offensive- and defensive-minded head coaches; LaFleur follows a defensive coach and continues that pattern. LaFleur spent the last five seasons as an offensive coordinator, two with the New York Jets and three with the Los Angeles Rams. The franchise aims to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021 under LaFleur. LaFleur is part of the Sean McVay coaching tree and is the fourth McVay OC to become an NFL head coach.
Read at ESPN.com
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