Cardinals Hire Michael Ghobrial As STC

The Cardinals are hiring Michael Ghobrial as their special teams coordinator, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Ghobrial spent the past two years in the same position with the Giants.

With Ghobrial on his way to Arizona, rookie head coach Mike LaFleur has filled all three coordinator positions just under two weeks into his tenure. LaFleur selected Nathaniel Hackett as his OC last week, and he retained DC Nick Rallis on Friday.

Ghobrial, a former UCLA defensive end, has mostly coached at the college level since beginning as an undergrad assistant at his alma mater in 2009. He first worked in the NFL as a Bill Walsh diversity coaching fellow on the Lions’ staff in 2017. After a year in Detroit, Ghobrial divided the next three seasons between Hawaii and Washington State.

Ghobrial returned to the pros as the Jets’ assistant special teams coach in 2021. He held the post for three years, and LaFleur was the Jets’ OC for two of those seasons. The two will now reunite in Arizona, where the 38-year-old Ghobrial will replace the long-tenured Jeff Rodgers. After eight seasons atop the Cardinals’ ST unit, Rodgers took the same job with the Bills in late January.

Elsewhere on the Cardinals’ staff, they’re expected to add Jake Moreland as their tight ends coach, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports. They’re also set to retain assistant offensive line coach Chris Cook.

Moreland, an NFL tight end from 2000-02, was on LaFleur’s offensive staff as the Jets’ assistant line coach in 2021. He went on to coach tight ends in Denver (2022) and Houston (2023-25) over the past four years. Moreland helped the Texans’ Dalton Schultz to three straight strong seasons, and he’ll walk into an even better situation in Arizona. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride easily led his position in catches (126), targets (169) and yards (1,239) in 2025. McBride also tied for the most touchdowns (11).