February 4, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals requested an interview with Houston Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso for their defensive-coordinator job, a source told the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. This will be Vasso's second interview for a DC job this cycle after getting a look from the Tennessee Titans before they went with veteran Gus Bradley. In addition to Vasso, the Cardinals are looking at New York Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen and Los Angeles Rams passing-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant. Vasso is a rising assistant in the coaching ranks and has been coaching with the Texans since the 2021 season. Before joining the Texans, Vasso coached with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Cardinals' defense could use all the help it can get after allowing the fourth-most points per game (28.7) and sixth-most total yards per game (357.7) in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
February 4, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals requested to interview New York Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen for their defensive-coordinator position, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Bullen was an in-house candidate for the Giants' DC job after John Harbaugh became the new head coach, and he also interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys' DC position. He was the Giants' interim DC in 2025 after the team fired Shane Bowen. If Bullen joins the Cardinals, it will be his second stint as a coach in Arizona after previously working as a position coach under former head coach Kliff Kingsbury from 2019 to 2022. He coached for the Miami Dolphins from 2012 to 2018. In addition to Bullen, the Cardinals have requested an interview with Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach and defensive passing-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
February 4, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are hiring former New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator on Wednesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 46-year-old was the offensive coordinator for three seasons under head coach Matt LaFleur for the Green Bay Packers and will now team up with LaFleur's brother, Mike, in Arizona. Hackett initially joined the Miami Dolphins this offseason to be the quarterbacks coach, but he's departing for a better opportunity in the desert. Hackett's offenses have been nothing special since his time in Green Bay while working with future Hall of Fame QB
Aaron Rodgers, so it's an underwhelming hire for first-year head coach LaFleur, especially for a Cardinals team that is currently at a crossroads at QB with
Kyler Murray (foot). LaFleur announced on Tuesday that he will be calling the offensive plays in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 4, 2026
New Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur announced on Tuesday that he will call the offensive plays in his first year as head coach in 2026, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. LaFleur is replacing Jonathan Gannon, who was fired on Jan. 5 after going 3-14 in 2025. The Cardinals have yet to hire a new offensive coordinator, who will be working under LaFleur. The last time that LaFleur called plays was in 2021 and 2022, when he was the New York Jets' offensive coordinator. He did not call plays the last three seasons under Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. The Jets went 11-23 during LaFleur's two seasons with the team while starting five different quarterbacks. The biggest order of business for LaFleur and the Cardinals' front office this offseason will be to decide if QB
Kyler Murray (foot) is viewed as the long-term option under center.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
February 4, 2026
SNY's Connor Hughes mentions Arizona Cardinals veteran quarterback
Jacoby Brissett as a potential trade target for the New York Jets this offseason. The 33-year-old went 7-8 as the starter for new Jets offensive coordinator in 2019, throwing for 2,942 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has one year left on his current deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Since 2016, Reich started 10 different QBs:
Bryce Young,
Andy Dalton,
Matt Ryan,
Sam Ehlinger,
Nick Foles,
Carson Wentz,
Philip Rivers, Brissett,
Brian Hoyer, and Andrew Luck. Brissett went 1-11 as the QB for Arizona in 2025, but he improved the offense over
Kyler Murray (foot) and threw for a career-high 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight picks in 14 games (12 starts). The Jets currently have only
Justin Fields and
Brady Cook under contract at QB, with few options expected to be available in the draft or free agency this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
February 1, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are working to finalize a five-year deal to make Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur their next head coach. LaFleur has spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles after two years in the same position with the New York Jets. The Rams led the NFL in both offensive yards and scoring in 2025, and LaFleur's presence in Arizona will unquestionably boost the fantasy stock of most Cardinals offensive weapons, assuming he's able to find a suitable answer at the quarterback position. With earlier reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are close to naming Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, all 10 head coaching vacancies have now been filled before the 2026 season.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Adam Schefter
January 30, 2026
Arizona Cardinals running back
James Conner (ankle) had his 2025 season cut short when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3. The veteran running back was a productive player as recently as 2024, when he recorded 1,508 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 283 touches across 16 games played. However, he will enter the 2026 season at 31 years old and less than a year removed from significant ankle surgery, bringing his future fantasy viability into question. The Cardinals spent most of the 2025 season without both of their top running backs, as 2024 third-round pick
Trey Benson (knee) did not play after Week 4 due to a knee injury. While Benson's injury status clouds his future outlook as well, Arizona appears headed for a backfield split. The team could also bring in additional talent at the position through free agency or the draft heading into 2026. Given his age and unclear health status, Conner's fantasy value in both redraft and dynasty formats is currently trending in the wrong direction.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 29, 2026
Arizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson (knee) very well could have had a Year 2 breakout season in 2025 had he not injured his knee early on. Benson ended up playing in only four games in his second year in the NFL, carrying the ball 29 times for 160 yards and no touchdowns while catching 13 of 16 targets for 64 yards. Primary RB
James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3. Conner is under contract for one more season, so if the 23-year-old Benson is healthy in 2026, he'll likely operate as the RB2 in the desert. Benson never had a major role behind Conner in his rookie campaign, totaling 63 rushing attempts for 291 yards and only one touchdown in 13 games played. On top of Benson's injury concerns -- he also had a major knee injury in college -- the Cardinals will have an entirely new coaching staff next season, and it's unclear what direction they'll go in at quarterback.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Not many fantasy football managers would have predicted Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson being a top-12 wideout at the start of the 2025 season. Thanks to injuries to quarterback
Kyler Murray and receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr., Wilson took over as the team's WR1 in the second half of the season and finished with career-highs across the board in catches (78), targets (126), receiving yards (1,006), and touchdowns (seven) in 17 games played. In the first nine games of the year, Wilson had only 22 receptions for 231 yards and one score on 38 targets. In the final eight contests, he soared with 56 catches on 88 targets for 775 yards and six touchdowns in a pass-happy Cardinals offense. Backup QB
Jacoby Brissett peppered Wilson with targets as much as possible, and he scored in each of the final five games. Despite the impressive breakout, Wilson's 2026 fantasy value will be shaky with a giant question mark at QB and under a completely new coaching staff.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 27, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals interviewed former Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera in-person for their head-coaching vacancy, a source told Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Rivera is currently the general manager for the football team at the University of California. The 64-year-old coached the Panthers from 2011 to 2019, which included a Super Bowl appearance and two NFL Coach of the Year awards. He wasn't as successful in a shorter stint as the Commanders' head coach from 2020 to 2023, as he never had a winning record in D.C. Rivera hasn't coached in the NFL for the last two seasons, but he's on Arizona's radar as they look to replace Jonathan Gannon. Rivera has plenty of experience in the NFL as a head coach, but it's believed that Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is the favorite to be named the Cardinals' next head coach.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 26, 2026
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is scheduled to meet with the Arizona Cardinals for a second, in-person interview on Monday and Tuesday for the head-coaching job, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. LaFleur has worked as the Rams' offensive coordinator under head coach Sean McVay for the last three seasons. Before that, he had an unsuccessful two-year stint as the New York Jets' OC. LaFleur hasn't generated a ton of interest -- probably because he was not the one calling plays in L.A. for the Rams' offense -- but he's also a head-coaching candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders. The 38-year-old has also coached with the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns under head coach Kyle Shanahan. He is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 26, 2026
ESPN's Josh Weinfuss writes that Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray's trade value has increased after Oregon QB Dante Moore announced on Jan. 14 that he would return to school for his junior season in 2026. Moore was projected to go second overall, behind Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. "One less quarterback on the market makes desperation increase," a source said. There isn't another clear-cut first-round signal-caller in this year's draft behind Mendoza, now that Moore is going back to school. An NFC source said they think the starting price for Murray, if Arizona is interested in moving him, could begin with a second-round pick. A league source believes Murray's market starts with a third-rounder. Murray is still a talented player, but he never played in 2025 after a foot injury in Week 5, putting his future in Arizona in question after another frustrating campaign. A final decision on whether the Cardinals decide to trade Murray this offseason might not be reached until the team hires a new head coach.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
January 26, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are interviewing former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver a second time on Monday for their head-coaching job, sources told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Weaver was a finalist for the head-coaching jobs with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers this cycle, and he was also a finalist for the New Orleans Saints' head-coaching gig last year. The 45-year-old was the Dolphins' defensive coordinator the last two years and also worked for the Ravens from 2021 to 2023 under head coach John Harbaugh. Weaver could be an ideal fit for the Cardinals organization as they look to replace Jonathan Gannon. The Buffalo Bills are also in play for Weaver, but the Cardinals appear to be making the bigger push for him. The Bills seem to prefer an offensive-minded head coach to pair with quarterback
Josh Allen, so Weaver might be more of a long shot there.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
January 21, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are bringing in Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile for a second, in-person interview for their head-coaching job on Thursday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The Jaguars' emergence in 2025 was spurred mostly by the defensive unit, which ranked first against the run. Campanile could be the favorite to take over in the desert after the team fired Jonathan Gannon. In addition to the Cardinals, Campanile interviewed for the head-coaching job with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. In addition to being first against the run under Campanile this year, the Jaguars' defense was second in takeaways and allowed the third-lowest rushing success rate and 11th-lowest drop-back success rate. If he were to be hired in Arizona, figuring out the quarterback situation would be at the top of his list of priorities.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 20, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are interviewing Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady for their head-coaching job on Tuesday, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Brady has a second head-coaching interview with the Baltimore Ravens and is also a candidate for the head-coaching openings for the Las Vegas Raiders. He interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans before they all hired new head coaches recently. Brady could also be a name to watch to replace Sean McDermott as the Bills' next head coach. The 36-year-old has never been a head coach in the NFL, previously running the offenses for LSU and the Carolina Panthers before joining Buffalo. The Cardinals have had a defensive background each of the last three years with Jonathan Gannon, but perhaps they're looking to go with an offensive mind moving forward.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
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