It is safe to say that Cardinals’ general manager Monti Ossenfort did his due diligence in the search for a head coach, as the team was the last one to make its hire.
Arizona settled on Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who was the best choice on the table at the time. But it goes without saying that the Cardinals took way too long during this process, and that’s something fans, executives, and writers can all agree on.
The team is incredibly lucky to have the 38-year-old offensive guru as their head coach in the first place, as he couldn’t have gone to one of the nine other openings.
The Cardinals played an incredibly dangerous game by waiting so long to make a decision, but it paid massive dividends. By no means did Ossenfort want to rush this process, as this is likely his last chance at keeping his job.
MORE: Only One Staffer Remains In Arizona From Old Regime
MORE: Senior Bowl Spotlight: Dametrious Crownover -- a Physical Tackle Option for Arizona
The Cardinals settled on LaFleur after Klint Kubiak chose to take the job with the Las Vegas Raiders.
As we’ve mentioned previously, LaFleur will inherit a ton of weapons on offense. Ranging from the league’s best tight end in Trey McBride to an underrated wide receiver duo in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the future.
On defense, LaFleur will get to coach a ton of second-year players who grew throughout the season. Walter Nolen III, Will Johnson, and Cody Simon, those three, along with a few veterans, have a ton of potential to leap in 2026.
Did the Cardinals take a little too much time when evaluating their options? Yes, but with the hire of LaFleur, it all worked out in the end.