Just like his brother, Green Bay Packers’ Matt LaFleur, Mike LaFleur is now a head coach in the NFL.
It’s one thing to have one NFL head coach in the family, and it’s another to have two, as the LaFleurs become the second head-coach duo in the league today, joining Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers and John Harbaugh of the New York Giants.
Mike has been named the newest head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, and he’s got plenty of work to do right away.
Brother of Packers’ LaFleur has a big challenge right away in 2026
Arizona was the only team from the powerful NFC West Division in the 2025 NFL season not to make the playoffs and have a winning record, as the Cardinals went 3-14.
In fact, it has been a while since the Cards last posted a winning record and joined the postseason fray, which was back in the 2021 campaign.
But Mike will have the support he needs, not just from his brother, at least from a personal standpoint, but even from former Arizona head coach Bruce Arians.
“Yeah, I think he’s a real bright, bright, bright young guy,” Arians recently said about Mike. “He’s been with Sean McVay, and if you’re with Sean McVay, you get a head coaching job. That’s just it. That’s the way it is in these days. So if you’ve been around Sean and had a cup of coffee, you get a head coaching job.”
Former #AZCardinals head coach Bruce Arians on new Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur.. and his reported decision to call plays AND be the head coach. @12SportsAZ
"Think he's a real bright young guy… if you been around Sean (McVay) and had a cup of coffee (with him), you get a head… pic.twitter.com/9E5a9rkyTJ
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) February 3, 2026
Before he landed the top gig in the Cardinals’ coaching staff, Mike was an offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Jets.
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