The Arizona Cardinals will have a new running backs coach in 2026. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Cardinals are going to the college ranks for their new running backs coach. It will be Miami running backs coach Matt Merritt.

It would appear that Autry Denson, the Cardinals’ running backs coach for the last three seasons, will not return.

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Miami was the runner-up for the national championship this past season. The running back room averaged 151.8 yards per game and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for 1,92 yards and 12 touchdowns.

While the team has not announced anything yet, here is a quick background of what we know about Merritt:

Grad Assistant at DIII Capital University (2010)

Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator at St. Charles Preparatory (2011-12)

Assistant Running Backs Coach at Ohio State University (2013-15)

Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator at DII Ohio Dominican (2016)

Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator at Elon (2017-18)

Running Backs Coach at James Madison (2019)

Senior Offensive Analyst at Tennessee (2021)

Running Backs Coach at Georgia Southern (2022)

Running Backs Coach at University of South Florida (2023)

Running Backs Coach at University of Miami (2024-25)

Per NBC Sports, Merritt and new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur crossed paths in 2019. Merritt had a coaching fellowship in 2019 with the San Francisco 49ers, probably just in the offseason or in training camp. LaFleur was the passing game coordinator for the 49ers in 2019.

The Cardinals’ running back room could look very different in 2026. James Conner is entering the final year of his contract and is coming off a season-ending injury. Emari Demercado will be a free agent. Michael Carter will be a free agent.

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Merritt and the Cardinals will have a big task in rebuilding that running game.

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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals hiring Matt Merritt as new RBs coach