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Arizoan Cardinals Coaching Search: 3 ‘Lead Candidates’ Emerge
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- Arizoan Cardinals Coaching Search: 3 ‘Lead Candidates’ Emerge
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The Arizona Cardinals are one of just three teams left standing with a head-coaching vacancy in the NFL coaching carousel. However, there appears to be a few finalists emerging in the Cardinals coaching search ahead of next week.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Saturday night that Raheem Morris, Anthony Campanile and Mike LaFleur are considered the "lead candidates" inside the organization to become the next Cardinals coach.
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Related: NFL Insider Names Two Candidates to Watch in Arizona Cardinals Coaching Search
Arizona is several weeks into its search to replace Jonathan Gannon. The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator posted a 3-14 record in 2025 and a 15-36 record over three seasons with the franchise. He and the rest of the Cardinals coaching staff were fired on Jan. 5.
Since Gannon's firing, several of Arizona's assistants have either been picked up across the league. The Detroit Lions hired offensive coordinator Drew Petzing for the same role. Arizona's former passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Drew Terrell interviewed to become the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator and Gannon is in the mix to become the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator.
Morris, age 49, is perhaps the most surprising finalist in the Cardinals coaching search. It is extraordinarily rare for anyone in the NFL to get a third shot at being a head coach after posting a losing record with two different franchises. Morris went 17-31 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009–2011) and 16-18 (2024–2025) with the Atlanta Falcons. However, the longtime coach is beloved around the league by players and coaches with a reputation for being an outstanding leader.
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Campanile is a rising name in the coaching world. He was one of the best linebackers coaches in the NFL from 2020 to 2024 with the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers. Liam Coen hired him as the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator in 2025, handing over full control of the Jacksonville defense.
Under Campanile, the Jaguars had one of the best one-year turnarounds in the NFL. A year after Jacksonville ranked 30th in yards per play allowed (5.9) and points per drive (2.43), 31st in scoring rate (45.6 percent), and 32nd in turnover rate (4.4 percent), the club ranked 11th (5.0), fifth (1.75), third (31.2 percent), and second (15.6 percent) in those same categories this past season.
LaFleur, the younger brother of the Packers head coach, has been the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator under Sean McVay since 2023. He took that job after a two-year stint as the New York Jets offensive coordinator (2021–2022) and spent the 2017 to 2020 campaigns on the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff under Kyle Shanahan.
During his two-year stint as the Jets play-caller, working with Robert Saleh, LaFleur offense ranked 30th in EPA per play (-0.079) and 31st in success rate (40.6 percent). However, it is worth noting that quarterback Zach Wilson started 22 of those games.
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