Who is Mike LaFleur? Meet the Cardinals' head coach with extensive experience under Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan

The Arizona Cardinals were the last team to decide on their new head coach, but they stayed in division.

Arizona is hiring Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as head coach, quickly pivoting after failing to hire Klint Kubiak. LaFleur has been in Los Angeles for the past three seasons and the Cardinals faced his and Sean McVay's offenses for two games every year.

Welcome to the Arizona Cardinals, Coach LaFleur. pic.twitter.com/1qaDLMOUkw

LaFleur is one of the lesser-known hires this offseason, despite having a familiar name. He becomes the latest Rams assistant to get a head coaching job since McVay took over.

Here's a breakdown of the Cardinals' new head coach.

MORE: Raiders to hire Klint Kubiak as HC after Super Bowl

Who is Mike LaFleur?

Mike LaFleur is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and was the offensive coordinator for the Rams.  LaFleur previously worked under Kyle Shanahan for many years, getting his start as an intern for the Cleveland Browns when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator. LaFleur then followed Shanahan, first to the Atlanta Falcons as an offensive assistant then to the San Francisco 49ers as the passing game coordinator.

In 2021, LaFleur joined the New York Jets as offensive coordinator when Robert Saleh became head coach. After two years, the Jets fired LaFleur from his role, but LaFleur landed on his feet as the Rams offensive coordinator.

For the past three years, LaFleur has been Sean McVay's offensive coordinator following in the footsteps of head coaches Kevin O'Connell and Liam Coen.

MORE: Mike Vrabel is The Sporting News Coach of the Year

Why did Cardinals hire Mike LaFleur?

LaFleur joins the Cardinals after three successful seasons as the Rams offensive coordinator, helping lead the team to three-straight playoff appearances. Of course, LaFleur didn't call plays for the Rams, but he did play a role in the success of Los Angeles' offense.

With LaFleur's hire, five active head coaches were offensive assistants under McVay. Matt LaFleur, Mike LaFleur, Liam Coen and Kevin O'Connell were all McVay's offensive coordinator for at least one season, while Zac Taylor was the Rams quarterbacks coach in 2018.

MORE: Bills promote Joe Brady to head coach

Is Mike LaFluer related to Matt Lafleur?

Mike LaFleur is the younger brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, making them the second active pair of brothers to also be NFL head coaches, joining John and Jim Harbaugh. Mike LaFleur will turn 39 before the start of the 2026 season, which makes him about 6.5 years younger than his older brother.

MORE: Who is on The Sporting News NFL All-Pro Team?

Mike LaFluer contract

LaFleur is getting a five-year contract with the Cardinals, which seems to be the standard contract for all the coaches hired this offseason.

Mike LaFleur coaching history

Since entering the NFL in 2014, LaFleur has mainly worked under either Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay. Here's a look at LaFleur's cull coaching history:

• 2014: Browns, Intern
• 2015-16: Falcons, Offensive assistant
• 2017-20: 49ers, Passing game coordinator
• 2021-22: Jets, Offensive coordinator
• 2023-25: Rams, Offensive coordinator