The Arizona Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon on Monday, the team announced. Gannon oversaw three consecutive losing seasons in Arizona. They're coming off his worst campaign, a 3-14 finish that convinced general manager Monti Ossenfort that change was needed.
Ossenfort will oversee the process of appointing Gannon's successor. It's going to be an interesting offseason in Arizona. The Cardinals are equipped with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. They're expected to move on from starting quarterback Kyler Murray after benching him, but finding his replacement won't be straightforward.
Prospective candidates will have questions about the Cardinals' quarterbacking plans. Ossenfort must provide answers to lure someone worthwhile to the job. We've identified three potential head coaching candidates that the Cardinals should consider interviewing.
Mike LaFleur, Rams OC
It wouldn't be surprising if the Cardinals plucked a candidate from their excellent NFC West division. Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur could emerge as a serious option. LaFleur has spent the previous three seasons rehabilitating his coaching reputation after the genius thumb of Sean McVay.
LaFleur was the New York Jets' OC and play-caller for two seasons (2021-22), but bad quarterback play and even worse ownership doomed that tenure. He also worked under Kyle Shanahan for a number of years as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator. LaFleur, who has helped oversee an MVP-caliber season from Matthew Stafford, should interview for the job.
Klint Kubiak, Seahawks OC
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is another NFC West candidate who could draw Arizona's interest. The 14-3 Seahawks have a first-round bye after claiming the conference's top seed. That means the Cardinals can conduct a virtual interview with Kubiak this week, per NFL rules. They should take advantage of that benefit.
Kubiak has overseen an offensive explosion in Seattle. He's helped develop Jaxon Smith-Njigba into the NFL's receiving yards leader and potential Offensive Player of the Year winner. Quarterback Sam Darnold has also thrived under his tutelage while occasionally playing his way into the MVP conversation. Whichever quarterback the Cardinals have next would greatly benefit from having Kubiak as their head coach.
Matt Nagy, Chiefs OC
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will be a popular retread candidate throughout this cycle. He feels like a realistic option for the Tennessee Titans, who are interviewing him this week. Nagy spent eight seasons alongside Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi in Kansas City.
Nagy's four-year tenure as the Chicago Bears' head coach has aged better than it appeared in real time. He went 34-31 with Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, and a post-peak Nick Foles as his quarterbacks. Nagy's contract as the Chiefs' OC is expiring and there's been a campaign led by his pal Andy Reid to get him a head coaching job. He could interview for multiple vacancies in the coming days.