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ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN’s Schefter names 3 candidates in Cardinals’ head-coaching search

The Arizona Cardinals' head-coaching candidates list still includes Anthony Campanile, Raheem Morris and Mike LaFleur, says ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Watch: Breaking down the Arizona Cardinals' running back room and preseason offense | 9 mins

The Arizona Cardinals’ list of head-coaching candidates has included 16 known prospects since the franchise got to work after Jonathan Gannon’s firing.

It got shorter this week with some of those candidates taking other open positions. On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter told The Pat McAfee Show he knows of three candidates whom he believes Arizona remains interested in.

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“They had in Anthony Campanile, the Jaguars defensive coordinator, yesterday,” Schefter said. “I still think they’re looking at Raheem Morris and Mike LaFleur, the Rams offensive coordinator who’s involved this weekend.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds Campanile is “firmly in the mix” for the vacant head-coaching job.

Campanile is the only known candidate among the trio that has met twice with Arizona this coaching search.

He turned around Jacksonville’s defense for the better in 2025, with the Jaguars allowing the fewest rushing yards (85.6) and eighth fewest points per game (19.8). It was just Campanile’s first year as a defensive coordinator, too.

Before his time in Jacksonville, Campanile had prior NFL stops with Green Bay (2024) and Miami (2020-23).

Morris is the lone head coach of the bunch.

He’s on the hunt for a new job after back-to-back 8-9 seasons as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach.

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On top of his time in Atlanta, Morris also served as Tampa Bay’s head coach from 2009-11.

His all-time record as a head coach, including his 11-game stint as Atlanta’s interim in 2020, is 37-56 (.398).

He’s also got some NFC West experience working as the Rams’ DC from 2021-23.

LaFleur, another person who has worked under Rams head coach Sean McVay, is the only candidate among the trio preparing for a conference championship this weekend.

The brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Mike LaFleur has been Rams OC since 2023.

This past regular season, the Rams ranked atop the NFL in total yards (394.6), passing yards (268.1) and points per game (30.5).

Tyler Drake Cardinals reporter and ArizonaSports.com editor

Born and raised in Kelseyville, California, I spent most of my summers growing up in Arizona. There were a lot of trips to Globe and the East Valley. Once out of high school, I attended the University of Arizona with a major in natural resources… Read more

Comments

53 Comments

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Shredder Raton 7 months ago

You had the idea re the coaches so you still deserve props. Which of course I'll steal. :-) And thanks for bringing up the historic 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins to this University of Miami grad. Those were the days. Which is why I think the Cards should hire Chris Shula, grandson of Don.

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B Fan 7 months ago

I did a similar research list that too recently- great job my friend

Though I have a real hard time giving Wiz any real credit.. To me that was Kurt Warner and Denny Greens Roster.. Where wiz was the manager.. Especially in how bad we flopped after Warner

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Martin Knerien 6 months ago

A tree usually follows main branches. Such as one of my cousins made one for my father's side, and while it lists who everyone married and their children. Or doesn't have the person who married into the family, families on their side. She also stayed on this side of the ocean.
So while you're technically correct, it's stretching things.