Arizona Cardinals DL coach reportedly leaving for Michigan State

Arizona Cardinals first-year defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere has agreed to take the same job title with the Michigan State Spartans under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, according to reports from 247 Sports and On3.

DeLattiboudere, 27, is in his first season coaching in the NFL after the Cardinals moved on from Derrick LeBlanc after the 2024 season.

DeLattiboudere will join new MSU defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, who was his coordinator in 2023 on the staff of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and was his coach at the school from 2015-19.

Fitzgerald, Northwestern’s former head coach, is rebuilding the Spartans’ staff after the school fired head coach Jonathan Smith.

DeLattiboudere’s departure raises more questions for an Arizona coaching staff that appears likely to have some shakeups this offseason.

The Cardinals’ defensive line ranked 25th in grade by Pro Football Focus heading into a 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.

ESPN has Arizona’s defense ranked 20th in pass-rush win rate (37%) and 22nd in run-stop win rate (30%).

Overall, the Cardinals (3-11) have underachieved this year. The defensive line falls into that category, too, after it added veterans Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson to join recent first-round picks Darius Robinson (2024) and Walter Nolen III (2025).

Robinson and Nolen have struggled with health issues early in their careers — though Nolen has come on strong in five recent games with 11 tackles, two sacks and two pass deflections.

Campbell, at 39 years old, has been the Cardinals’ most productive interior defensive lineman, with 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. After that, third-year pro PJ Mustipher has surprised with 31 tackles.

The defensive line’s play has, however, opened the door for a strong season for outside linebacker Josh Sweat, who has 11 sacks, tying a career high with three games left.

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