Arizona Cardinals new head coach Mike LaFleur. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

New Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur reveals play-calling plans, comments on Kyler Murray

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Feb 3, 2026 11:02 PM ET

New Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur has seen his brother do it at a high level for the Green Bay Packers.

Being a head coach and a play-caller in the NFL is no small task, but Matt LaFleur has become one of the winningest head coaches in the NFL as the head man and offensive play-caller of the Packers.

Now a head coach himself after being hired by the Cardinals to replace Jonathan Gannon (ironically, now the defensive coordinator under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay), the younger LaFleur brother told the media on Tuesday that he's planning on calling plays in Arizona.

Mike LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets from 2021 to 2022 before working under Sean McVay (a head coach who is also a play-caller) as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams from 2023 until the end of this last season.

He's got the experience, and it clearly runs in his blood, so why not give it a shot?

New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Mike LaFleur, the former Offensive Coordinator of the Rams. is planning on calling his own plays.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 2, 2026

We know LaFleur will be calling plays in Arizona, but who will be his quarterback?

That's the biggest question he'll have to quickly answer as a head coach.

The Arizona Cardinals must answer a big Kyler Murray question

The Cardinals selected Kyler Murray with the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he has just one playoff appearance as a quarterback as he enters his eighth season in the league.

He, as well as backup Jacoby Brissett, are both under contract for the 2026 season and his $39.8 million is guaranteed. With that said, Murray's $19.5 million salary for the 2027 season will become fully guaranteed by the fifth league day of this 2026 offseason.

That means the Cardinals will have to quickly determine if they see Murray being their quarterback for the next two seasons, at least. He is under contract through 2027 with a club option in 2028.

LaFleur didn't comment on his plans for Murray, but he did give his thoughts on facing the quarterback as an opposing coach.

"I have a lot of respect for him as a player," LaFleur said of Murray, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "Having the five years having to go against him, a lot of respect for him as a player and he was never a fun challenge to go against."

If Murray is released or traded before June 1, he'll count as a $54 million dead cap hit for the Cardinals. After June 1, the dead cap hit will still be $47.5 million in 2026.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

This article first appeared on Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI and was syndicated with permission.

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