Cardinals Coaching Search: Arizona’s Three Lead Candidates Include One Recently Fired Head Coach

As teams astir nan NFL move to capable their coaching vacancies, nan Cardinals’ hunt is reportedly coming into focus.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Saturday that Arizona has identified 3 “lead candidates” to switch Jonathan Gannon, who was fired astatine nan extremity of nan Cardinals’ 3–14 season. Raheem Morris, who was fired aft back-to-back 8–9 seasons starring nan Falcons, is nan astir high-profile of nan candidates, and is joined by Jaguars protect coordinator Anthony Campanile and Rams violative coordinator Mike LaFleur.

Campanile and LaFleur would beryllium first-time caput coaches.

Raheem Morris antecedently served arsenic Falcons and Buccaneers coach

The astir knowledgeable coach connected nan Cardinals’ reported list, Morris took complete nan Buccaneers for his first caput coaching stint successful 2009 aft 2 years arsenic protect backs coach, ascending to nan apical occupation aft Jon Gruden was fired. He went 17–31 successful 3 seasons earlier being dismissed, missing nan playoffs 3 times—including a 10–6 run successful 2010.

After a three-year extremity successful Washington arsenic DBs coach, Morris was hired by nan Falcons’ Dan Quinn arsenic adjunct caput coach and protect walk crippled coordinator, later moving to coach connected nan violative broadside of nan shot earlier returning to defense successful 2019 to coach nan secondary erstwhile again. He became nan protect coordinator successful 2020 and later interim coach aft Quinn’s dismissal, going 4–7.

From there, Morris would activity for 3 years nether Sean McVay arsenic Rams protect coordinator, and past return to nan Falcons successful 2024 arsenic caput coach. He went 16–18 earlier being fired. Now, he could beryllium connected nan verge of his 3rd caput coaching opportunity.

Anthony Campanile helped move astir nan Jaguars defense nether Liam Coen

The 43-year-old Campanile spent astir of his coaching profession moving done nan assemblage ranks. The Rutgers grad and New Jersey autochthonal held aggregate spots connected nan Scarlet Knights’ unit from 2012 to ‘15 aft coaching astatine nan vaunted precocious schoolhouse programme astatine Don Bosco Prep. From there, he moved connected to Boston College (2016 to ‘18) and Michigan (‘19) earlier breaking into nan NFL arsenic Brian Flores’s linebackers coach pinch nan Dolphins successful 2020.

He remained connected unit nether Mike McDaniel until 2024, erstwhile he near to coach nether Jeff Hafley pinch nan Packers defense. Liam Coen hired Campanile arsenic Jaguars protect coordinator successful ‘25, and his first full-time DC occupation proved fruitful for nan franchise, which made a playoff tally nether nan caller coaching staff.

Campanile’s defense classed sixth successful nan NFL successful DVOA (defense-adjusted worth complete average), a measurement of play-by-play squad ratio adjusted to force strength. Jacksonville classed 4th successful nan NFL against nan run. No NFL rusher managed much than 74 yards connected nan crushed successful a azygous crippled against nan Jaguars, pinch nan Colts’ Jonathan Taylor reaching that people connected 21 carries successful a 36–19 Jacksonville triumph successful December.

Mike LaFleur hopes to beryllium nan newest branch disconnected of nan Sean McVay tree

A sanction that should beryllium very acquainted to NFL fans, LaFleur is nan 38-year-old younger relative of Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who has been making his measurement done nan NFL ranks complete nan past decade-plus.

After serving arsenic FCS programme Davidson’s violative coordinator successful 2013, LaFleur jumped to nan NFL arsenic an intern pinch nan Browns nan pursuing year, later coaching alongside his relative and existent 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan (as good arsenic nan aforementioned Morris) pinch nan Falcons arsenic an violative assistant. While his relative went to activity for McVay pinch nan Rams, Mike followed Shanahan to San Francisco successful 2017, spending 4 years arsenic passing crippled coordinator.

LaFleur had an ill-fated two-year stint arsenic Jets violative coordinator nether Robert Saleh from 2021 to ‘22, and past took complete nan Rams OC occupation erstwhile held by his older relative successful ‘23. The McVay character has borne important consequence contempt nan truth that nan Rams coach conscionable turned 40 connected Saturday, pinch Zac Taylor (Bengals), Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) and Coen (Jaguars) each uncovering occurrence aft moving successful Los Angeles.

That character could sprout a 2nd LaFleur branch if Arizona opts to prosecute nan Rams OC.

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