It is official, the Seattle Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, a rematch of the tilt the two teams saw in 2024, where the Patriots won 28–14. However, it is important to understand that the results of today’s games will heavily impact the Cardinals' coaching search.
According to Darren Urban, a source close to the team, Arizona had five candidates coaching today, and three are officially free to be hired as soon as tomorrow.
Both coordinators from the L.A. Rams, Mike LaFleur (offense) and Chris Shula (defense), will be available after their 31–27 loss to the Seahawks. As for Denver, which lost 10–7 to the Patriots, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will officially be made available.
Mike LaFleur and Vance Joseph, in particular, called tremendous games. Lafelur and the Los Angeles offense put up 27 points in one of the hardest venues to play in, which is Lumen Field. Unfortunately, a few critical errors as a team impacted the result of the game.
Joseph, on the other hand, allowed only 10 points to an offense led by an MVP candidate in Drake Maye. But it’s hard to answer excellent defensive play with a quarterback that only has four career starts to his name.
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If we were picking who the Cardinals should hire as their head coach, it would definitely be someone with an offensive mind. Even better, poaching a guy that comes from a coaching tree like Sean McVay’s.
Arizona should definitely consider hiring Mike LaFleur as their guy of the future. It would be absolute gold to steal a staffer from a division rival. Coupled with that, LaFleur would finally get the chance to call plays, as he hasn’t been able to with the Rams. That role is solely McVay’s, and LaFleur has had the chance to learn how to do it under him.
With all the knowledge he has, he would have the chance to apply those skills to a team like Arizona, one that has plenty of weapons to work with.