Feb 04, 2026
3 min read
The new recruit will be calling the plays on offense.They go to the construction staff.
Mike LaFleur was a member of the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff in 2020 when California's coronavirus restrictions forced the team to move for six weeks from State Farm Stadium to the Renaissance Hotel, where the 49ers played their final game of the season.
In 2024, LaFleur was on the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Rams when wildfires forced the team to play a "home" playoff game at State Farm Stadium.With the Rams using the Dignity Health Training Center for practice, LaFleur put the game in the meeting room where he now stands.
"I know this building," the new Cardinals head coach said at his introductory press conference on Tuesday.“I had to walk around this building for three days.
"I told (my wife) Lauren a year ago, 'I'm going to be the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals one day.'It just felt right."
LaFleur talked about how the area felt like home when he was there for the Rams game, and it certainly had that vibe Tuesday.Not only were his wife and children there, but his parents, his wife's parents, his brother Matt - who happens to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers - and Matt's wife and children were all in attendance.
There were also about 20 current Cardinals players in the back of the auditorium, showering LaFleur with verbal praise as he spoke.
"I can't wait to do this show," he told them.
The job is big, taking on a 3-14 team and dealing with the question of who will play quarterback.But LaFleur gave a reliable message with quick knowledge (he said to owner Michael Bidwill, "I'm not saying you're right. I believe you're right.") But with a serious level of self-confidence (the driver of power in the NFC West, he said "if it's easy, it's not worth it).
Lafleur was the "clear winner" in the interview process, Bidwill said.bidvill added that the Cardinals have learned from each of the 14 candidates who spoke during the 27-day trial.
"It gives us an opportunity to see other organizations and how they do things for free," Bidwill said."We benefited from each and every one of these interviews.
There's a lot to do.The coaching staff has to be put together first, but the first coach said he wasn't necessarily looking for a lot of experience in his coordinators, but wanted to see how the process went.LaFleur added that he had several coaches in the building that he wanted to talk to about potential roles.
The quarterback still didn't have an answer, and said those conversations still need to happen.
But LaFleur said he will call plays, something he last did full-time as the Jets' offensive coordinator in 2021-22 before spending the last three seasons as the Rams' offensive coordinator, knowing head coach Sean McVay would be the go-to guy.
"I missed," LaFleur said.
The angry players he talked to were eager to see what it was like on the field.
"He talked about how this system is going to be built organically around the players, but I'm sure he's going to take and incorporate a lot of McVay's system and Shanahan's system," wide receiver Michael Wilson said.that they will bring some of it here."
His older brother Matt, who like Mike worked under McVay and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, noted that working under such coaches helps a coach build a foundation to fall back on.He did, and now Mike has his chance.
"I thought I was going to be more interesting than him," Matt LeFleur said."I'm really excited about his opportunity. He earned it and he did it the right way. There are no shortcuts, you have to put in the work and I think he will do a great job."
GM Monty Ossenforth said it was easy to envision LaFleur as someone who could lead the program. There was an aura on the stage Tuesday as the Cardinals' new coach talked about the wins and losses that define both success and failure, and ultimately just wins and losses.
Bidwill said after Gannon was released that he believes the Cardinals can turn things around quickly.
LeFleur hasn't been there yetIt's about recruiting coaches and building relationships with playersGames that produce wins and losses are still a long way offBut he knows there is pressureIt's just the NFL
"Every year is a blank slate," LaFleur said."I don't care what our record was. Last year's record, the only thing that means we have a higher draft pick. That's all that really matters at that point. We have to go to work to build this roster. Even if we showed up and it was 14-3, guess what? Get back to work.
"I'm just interested in building this staff and working with these guys so that when the time comes, we can put our best foot forward to be successful in football and hopefully rebuild that back wall."
LaFleur looked at the back wall of the auditorium, where his freshman players stood, hanging on copies of the division and conference titles.Adding the banner itself would be the ultimate goal.
