The Cardinals are one of four teams which still have a head coaching vacancy. A hire could be coming soon, though, with a trio of top candidates in place. 
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Arizona considers Raheem Morris, Anthony Campanile and Mike LaFleur to be the “leading” options at this point. All three have interviewed at least once with the Cardinals as part of their ongoing search. Campanile met with the team for a second time on Thursday, something other candidates are also set to do shortly.
The current Jaguars defensive coordinator has been a popular head coaching candidate during this year’s cycle. Campanile interviewed with the Ravens and Dolphins, but both teams have since gone in a different direction to fill their HC positions. 2025 marked the 43-year-old’s first season as a coordinator at the NFL level, so taking on a head coaching gig would represent another major career move.
LaFleur has a more extensive history as an NFL coordinator, having served as an OC with the Jets from 2021-22 and with the Rams for the past three seasons. He has not handled play-calling duties in Los Angeles while working under Sean McVay, but the 38-year-old has helped his stock over the course of his Rams stint. A follow-up interview was not possible in LaFleur’s case this past week with the Rams advancing to the NFC title game. One could be arranged in the near future, however.
Morris is the only member of the trio who has worked as a head coach at the NFL or college levels. He was at the helm of the Buccaneers from 2009-11; Morris also served as the Falcons’ coach for a total of 45 games across two different stints. Over that span, his teams posted a winning record just once. Morris, 49, is regarded as one of the game’s top defensive minds but his head coaching winning percentage sits at .398. Interest in multiple D-coordinator positions could be coming in this case in the even Morris does not land the Cardinals gig, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Plenty remains to be seen over the coming days, but SNY’s Connor Hughes reports LaFleur is “believed to be the frontrunner” for the Arizona HC position at this time. For now, his attention will be focused on the Rams’ game against the Seahawks with a Super Bowl berth on the line. Nevertheless, a deal bringing with it a first head coaching opportunity allowing LaFleur to remain in the NFC West could be coming soon.
Here is an updated look at where Arizona’s search stands:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To conduct in-person interview
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Conducted second interview 1/22; leading candidate?
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/10, considered “strong candidate”
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16; leading candidate?
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Interviewed; leading candidate?
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To conduct second interview 1/25
Morris? Because he excelled in Atlanta?
He has experience with bird mascots. Can’t think of any other reason.
So Lafleur or Campanile because no gotdamn way Rah getting another HC job so soon.
So now that they’ve admitted it, are they going to rehab?
Uncertainty at qb, who knows with Kyler anymore, plus look at the rest of their division, basically 1/3 of your schedule your facing Macdonald, Mcvay and Shanahan. Oh, and you got the afc west next year as well
Shanahan is past his “best before” date and things have gotten so crazy that a loss to the Seahawks might start speculation that Mcvay has lost the magic touch. When owners see teams like the Bears and Patriots transform into winners almost overnight their patience with mediocrity will be even less than it was in the past. Any GM or HC taking their job security for granted is a fool.
Your statement regarding Sean McVay couldn’t be more flawed. No head coach in the NFL has more job security than he does!
Morris to me might be a bit of a red flag given his and Fontenot’s simultaneous Penix draft/Cousins acquisition. That was a head scratcher at the time, but there are no shortage of those in Arizona so…
How many more chances do you think they’ll give Raheem Morris 2, 3, or 5?
He should be nicknamed RR for Rooney Rule now.
At least until they put together a team and need a coach to take them over the top, Raheem is good enough to give them stability, keep them semi-competitve, and not set them back. If they hire a culture killer of a coach, they might have to tear the whole thing down to the studs before their next coach…