A fresh start in Arizona: Mike LaFleur takes over as the Cardinals build for the future

The Arizona Cardinals are starting over. Coming off a 3-14 season and residing in the NFL's toughest division, Arizona made sweeping changes this offseason — a new head coach, a new direction at quarterback, and a bold investment in a young offensive centerpiece. This is the first season of the Mike LaFleur era, and it's about laying a foundation more than chasing wins.

New leadership, new quarterback picture

The Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur, the well-regarded former Rams offensive coordinator, to take over as head coach, and made the significant decision to release quarterback Kyler Murray. Veteran Jacoby Brissett — who took the reins from an injured Murray in 2025 and never gave them back — is the presumed starter, having thrown for a career-best 3,366 yards in a tumultuous season. Arizona also drafted quarterback Carson Beck on Day 2 as a developmental option. Installing LaFleur's offense hasn't been seamless, with Brissett's contract situation and offseason involvement a storyline, but the veteran's experience gives the new staff a functional starting point.

A franchise back

The Cardinals made a statement with the third overall pick, selecting running back Jeremiyah Love and guaranteeing the 21-year-old more money than any running back in NFL history. Love may be the most anticipated offensive rookie in the entire draft class — a dynamic, eye-popping talent LaFleur can build his offense around. It's a bold bet on a foundational young playmaker.

Season outlook

Arizona projects as the worst team in a loaded NFC West that features the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks, an aggressive Rams team, and a strong 49ers squad. Realistically, 2026 is about building the roots of the LaFleur era — installing the offense, developing Love and the young roster, and finding out what the Cardinals have. Wins will be hard to come by against that competition, but the season's real measure is progress and identity. After years in the wilderness, Arizona is starting fresh, and the LaFleur-Love foundation gives the rebuild a direction worth watching.