By pulling from inside that tree, though, the Cardinals hope to unlock the nuances that have made McVay and Shanahan’s acolytes so successful. It’s a trajectory that Matt LaFleur — Mike’s brother — knows well, having been McVay’s first offensive coordinator before landing as the Green Bay Packers head coach.

“This stems back to our days with the Shanahans as well,” Matt LaFleur said. “Learning ball the right way and trying to lay it out and build a foundation that you can lean back on. Having a clear philosophy.”

It’s also about a willingness to adapt that philosophy.

Take the Rams’ explosion of 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) usage this season. That was never the plan entering the year. But when Puka Nacua missed two games with a sprained ankle, the Rams adjusted by relying on their tight ends. And when they saw the conflict that created for defenses, they leaned into that new ideology, even when Nacua returned.

“We organically built to that 13 personnel,” Mike LaFleur said. “It wasn’t like we were sitting here a year ago, saying we’re probably gonna be the most 13 personnel usage in football. That’s an absolute lie. The best offenses I’ve been a part of, they’ve organically just gotten to that point.”

In Matt LaFleur’s mind, this is a central tenet of those who have worked under McVay.

“Sean does that as good as anybody in the game, in my opinion, of just being able to adapt,” Matt LaFleur said. “Mike talked about being organic throughout the course of the season and how you evolve. And I think there’s so much truth to that. And you can’t be rigid. I think the days of rigidness in this profession, in coaching, are long gone.”

The last time that Mike LaFleur worked as a playcaller came before his time with McVay. He spent 2021 and 2022 in that role with the New York Jets, where he oversaw a pair of bottom-five scoring offenses.

Ossenfort pointed to the context surrounding that tenure and said that the Cardinals “viewed Mike’s time in New York (as) a positive.” But the vision is that he has learned from that tenure, in part, by studying with the best.

“For him … to learn and to see what (the Rams) have done and to see how coach McVay has run that program, I think that’s all been beneficial,” Ossenfort said.

As for LaFleur’s decision to accept the Cardinals’ job, he described a longstanding admiration for the organization. The Cardinals have twice welcomed LaFleur’s teams amid tragedy, first by allowing the 49ers to practice at State Farm Stadium during the pandemic and later by hosting the Rams for a playoff game during the 2025 Southern California wildfires.

“All you want is ownership to want to win,” LaFleur said. “And win in the worst way. And that was very apparent when I met Michael (Bidwill) last year, how much he loves this organization.”

Of course, the Hollywood version doesn’t tell the full story.

Throughout their coaching search, the Cardinals repeatedly failed to lure some of the league’s most sought-after candidates. Ossenfort did push back on that notion, saying, “Our job was attractive to many candidates.” But multiple experienced coaches spurned interviews in Arizona to accept jobs elsewhere.

LaFleur, meanwhile, might not have known when his next head coaching opportunity would arrive. He’s the first non-playcalling coordinator to be hired as a head coach since Brian Callahan two years ago. And in all likelihood, 10 jobs won’t open up again next year. To get another head coaching offer, LaFleur might have had to prove himself at an intermediate stop as a playcaller. Instead, he was able to use the league’s top-scoring offense to launch himself straight into this role.

All of that is real. But neither side was forced into this marriage. The Cardinals chose LaFleur over at least five other interviewees who didn’t land head coaching jobs. And LaFleur chose the Cardinals over chasing a Super Bowl with the Rams next year.

The goal, of course, is to make that a possibility in Arizona someday.

“We’re putting our best foot forward to go win football games,” LaFleur said.

Then he looked across the room, at a series of six banners commemorating each of the Cardinals’ divisional or conference titles.

“And hopefully,” LaFleur said, “update that back wall.”