New HC Mike LaFleur gave Cardinals players one order at start of offseason program

For better or for worse, new Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur clearly believed that moving on from quarterback Kyler Murray earlier this offseason was a necessary part of LaFleur attempting to reestablish a winning culture for the organization. 

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, outside linebacker Zaven Collins shared an order that LaFleur gave to Cardinals players at the start of the club's offseason program. 

Mike LaFleur expects big things from the 2026 Cardinals

"Win football games," Collins said about LaFleur's message, per Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. "Yeah, very clear. That’s something we want to do this year for sure — for the Valley, for this organization, for all the guys that come into work every single day." 

The Cardinals made Murray the first overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, but he notched zero postseason victories before he was unceremoniously shown the door by the organization in March. Under former head coach Jonathan Gannon, Arizona produced zero winning seasons over three years. Most recently, the 2025 Cardinals went 3-14. 

"He’s clear and correct and very to the point on how he wants things done and what he expects from us in the building, what he allows and what he doesn’t allow," Collins added during his comments about LaFleur. "You can kind of tell he’s like a no B.S. guy. He’s going to tell you what he wants, how he thinks and just be up front."

Mike LaFleur wants the Cardinals to excel at the "little things" 

Fair or not, questions about Murray's work ethic and dedication to the cause have hovered over him throughout his career. While either Jacoby Brissett or fellow journeyman Gardner Minshew is currently on track to open the upcoming season as Arizona's QB1, some think the Cardinals could make a trade and then grab Alabama Crimson Tide star Ty Simpson late in the upcoming draft's first round. 

"We all want the big one," Cardinals center Hjalte Froholdt added on Tuesday. "That’s the whole goal to come here, to win the Super Bowl. But in order to get there, we’ve got to set the tone first and (figure out) what the little things are. How do you set the huddle? What’s the cadence? What’s the expectations in the O-line room? What’s the expectations for the offensive meeting room? It’s all the little things that we can cohesively work as a unit, everybody involved from the top on down."

Froholdt's comments indicate that LaFleur may not be in a hurry to start a rookie quarterback over either Brissett or Minshew this coming September.