After a 3-14 season a year ago, the Arizona Cardinals have moved on from the Jonathan Gannon experience and hired Mike LaFleur as head coach. Nathaniel Hackett will be the new offensive coordinator. Jacoby Brissett is back at quarterback. Brissett went 1-11 as a starter in relief last season, which makes the “no one expects a leap right away” sentiment understandable. Arizona was hit hard by the injury bug last year, mainly at running back. The Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame and brought in Tyler Allgeier from the Falcons. James Conner will start the season on IR, but is looking to get back to his old ways after only playing three games last year, while Trey Benson and Bam Knight provide additional depth. The running back room is deep and could very well be used as a bargaining chip for a trade at some point this year. The Cardinals return their top three receivers from 2025: Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, and Marvin Harrison, in addition to acquiring Kendrick Bourne from the 49ers. Arizona returns Paris Johnson, Hjalte Froholdt, and Isaiah Adams on the offensive line and is excited about adding Isaac Seumalo from Pittsburgh and Elijah Wilkinson from Atlanta.
Nick Rallis will stay on as defensive coordinator despite the head coaching change. The Cardinals return eight of their top eleven tacklers from a season ago. Walter Nolen, Darius Robinson, Zaven Collins, Cody Simon, Mack Wilson, and Josh Sweat return to the front seven, along with Roy Lopez, who was with the Lions last year. Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Budda Baker, and Garrett Williams return to the secondary, with Andrew Wingard joining the group after playing for Jacksonville last year.
Michael Ghobrial takes over as special teams coach. Chad Ryland returns from IR and is back as the field goal kicker, and Blake Gilikin as punter. Devin Duvernay comes over from the Bears to take over the kick return duties. The Cardinals are moving on from QB Kyler Murray and bringing in a new staff, so nobody expects them to shoot up the standings to the top of the NFC West right away, but fans in Glendale are excited for the Mike LaFleur era to get underway.