The Arizona Cardinals, and Mike LaFleur specifically, finalized the coordinator positions on the coaching staff on Saturday. With that being out of the way, the team can start hiring for specific roles.
First, the Cardinals hired Nathaniel Hackett as the offensive coordinator. Hackett comes from a background that includes head coaching experience, as well as playcalling. Arizona also chose to retain defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, keeping him on the staff. Finally, Michael Ghobrial was hired as the special teams coordinator, joining the team after coaching the Buffalo Bills' special teams unit.
Other hires confirmed by the Cardinals include Matt Merritt, who was hired off the University of Miami’s staff to become the running backs coach. Tony Sorrentino was hired as the team’s wide receivers coach.
You may notice that LaFleur added a college coach to his staff, which is an unorthodox approach to things. However, Merritt isn’t the only guy who was hired to the staff from a college team, as the Cardinals followed the same approach for their cornerbacks coach.
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Cardinals Hire Zac Etheridge As Cornerbacks Coach
Similar to Merritt, Etheridge comes from the University of Miami. The one different thing, though, is that Etheridge has zero pro football coaching experience on his resume. His experience is strictly college.
Etheridge will have the opportunity to coach up a young group of corners in Will Johnson and Denzel Burke, who are both rookies. Max Melton isn’t much older either, as he completed just his second season.
2026 will definitely be a transition year for Arizona, but at least they get to play a last-place team’s schedule. With these hires, it is hard to tell how this team will do come September.