Feb. 4, 2026, 5:56 p.m. MT
The Arizona Cardinals, now with a new head coach in Mike LaFleur, are busy looking for a defensive coordinator. On Wednesday, among a number of reports of requested interviews, the Cardinalas are looking at a young assistant on Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans’ staff.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Cardinals have requested an interview with Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso.
Vasso has been with the Texans since 2021, first coaching cornerbacks from 2021-2023, and then all the defensive backs the last two seasons.
Houston’s defensive backfield is one of the best in the NFL with players like Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, Jalen Pitre and more.
He is 38 years old.
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Prior to his time with the Texans, he was with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016-2020 as a defensive quality control coach, assistant secondary coach and assistant coordinator on defense.
From 2013-2015, he was a coaching assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs under Andy Reid.
LaFleur has not crossed paths with Vasso on any coaching staff yet, but the Cardinals clearly think the young, up-and-coming coach is worth interviewing.
Who is in the mix for the Cardinals as defensive coordinator?
These names have come up so far:
Dino VassoRams assistant head coach and pass game coordinator Aubrey PleasantNew York Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen
No one has reported it, but Nick Rallis, the Cardinals’ DC for the last three seasons, presumably could be in the mix.
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