Arizona Cardinals new head coach Mike LaFleur at a news conference on Feb. 3, 2026, at Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe. Syndication: Arizona Republic
GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals roster has as many holes as Swiss cheese following an atrocious 3-14 2025 season. Injuries played a part, but failing to score 30+ points in any game is a call for malpractice. General manager Monti Ossenfort and owner Michael Bidwill brought in new head coach Mike LaFleur, who hired offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, to solve those offensive problems.
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There still remains hurdles for the team to take the proper steps of fixing the offense, but NFL.com writer Matt Okada believes the pieces are already present. Okada pointed out, despite the 1-11 record last year, Jacoby Brissett could be the answer in this new system.
Arizona Cardinals new head coach Mike LaFleur poses for a photograph on Feb. 3, 2026, at Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Okada on Cardinals biggest need:
” Per NFL Pro, the offense did see significant bumps in called pass rate (+6.6%), total yards per game (+52.9) and success rate (+5.7%) in Jacoby Brissett‘s 12 starts versus Murray’s five last season. New head coach Mike LaFleur and new OC Nathaniel Hackett will need to find a new QB and figure out a new offensive identity (as soon as possible). And while it won’t be Aaron Rodgers, don’t be surprised to see Hackett create the offense in his image anyway, after doing so in each of his last five seasons as an OC (in both Green Bay and New York).
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) carries the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Okada pointed out that former head coach Jonathan Gannon and his staff leveled out at 22nd in points per game in their tenure. LaFleur is coming from the Los Angeles Rams, that just had the No. 1 offense in the NFL. The 38-year-old didn’t call plays in L.A. but has experience with the New York Jets, alongside his new offensive coordinator in Hackett.
Nathaniel Hackett (offensive coordinator) answers questions during a news conference at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Feb. 18, 2026. Syndication: Arizona Republic
The duo both had their shots of calling plays in New York and failed because of the liability at quarterback. LaFleur had a struggling Zach Wilson, while Hackett had Aaron Rodgers one season removed from tearing his Achilles. Brissett has all the momentum in the world, with the best statistical season of his career.
The 33-year-old had 3,336 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in 12 games started. His 280.5 yards per game average would be the highest of any QB in the NFL last season. A weak quarterback class in the 2026 NFL draft and free agency, could force LaFleur to run back Brissett as a starter in a new system with some recent success. At the minimum, Brissett is a nice buffer year starter that will help the development of young skill players before looking at future options next offseason.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
