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Despite a head coaching change, Nick Rallis will remain as the Cardinals defensive coordinator.
The Arizona Cardinals have already retained defensive coordinator Nick Rallis under new coach Mike LaFleur. Now, they bring back another key defensive coach.
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, linebackers coach Cristian Garcia will return under LaFleur.
Much of last year’s defensive staff has left the team, leaving Rallis and Garcia as some of the only continuous voices left on the staff.
While the Rallis retention was a bit surprising for many reasons, the Cardinals have decided to keep continuity with the defense.
What Does This Mean for the Team?
While the retention of Rallis and Garcia understandably drew the ire of Cardinals fans, the players seemed excited.
One of whom is a team captain in linebacker Mack Wilson.
According to a post on Twitter by Wilson, he seemed pleased that the Cardinals retained Rallis, and it’s fair to say the feeling would be the same for Garcia.
It is a photo of Wilson with Rallis, captioned “Unfinished business.”
Unfinished business.. 🚀
Wilson has been a starting linebacker for the Cardinals since 2024 and has played in 24 games since. His season was cut short after an injury in Week 9, coincidentally, the last win of Arizona’s season.
With the team, he has two interceptions, 11 passes defensed, a forced fumble and recovery, three sacks and 135 tackles.
Wilson has been an integral part of this Arizona defense, and his absence was certainly felt the rest of the season, with the Cardinals allowing 30+ points six times.
He enters the final year of a three-year contract.
The Cardinals also recorded just 30 sacks in 2025, near the bottom of the league. While injuries were partly to blame, the depth was not great.
Who is the Arizona Cardinals’ Cristian Garcia?
Garcia joined the Cardinals in 2025 and clearly made an impression.
Before Arizona, he was with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024 as an assistant defensive backs and quality control coach.
With Dallas, Garcia helped coach the Dallas defense to 52 sacks in 2024 (third in the NFL). In addition, Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs had a strong season with 11 passes defensed in just 11 games.
Before Dallas, he was with the Washington Commanders in the same role.
As expected, much of Arizona’s defensive staff has departed. Defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere took the same position at Michigan State University. Defensive backs coach Patrick Toney became co-defensive coordinator at the University of Mississippi.
Cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith went to Dallas, and defensive quality control coach Ronald Booker went to the New York Jets.
Because of the retention of Rallis and Garcia, the defensive personnel are likely to stay the same for now.
With questions at linebacker outside of Wilson, however, there might be a free agent signing or draft pick at the position, especially with Wilson in a walk year.
Either way, this Cardinals defense does need a bit of an overhaul this offseason. With injuries plaguing the team, we may see a defense-heavy draft this year, with Rallis and Garcia coaching them.
Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer
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