Arizona

How Arizona Cardinals landed on Mike LaFleur as next head coach

Published

4 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

How Arizona Cardinals landed on Mike LaFleur as next head coach

Mike LaFleur has spent the past three years working directly with Sean McVay, all while the greatest coach of this generation worked through a crucial transitional period. As far as LaFleur’s resume goes, this is bullet point 1A.

McVay’s teams are not associated with failure, but that’s where they were when LaFleur arrived as offensive coordinator. Fresh off a 5-12 season, the Rams were seeking an offensive identity. LaFleur helped them find it by working with McVay to overhaul the run game. This season, that new identity morphed even further, as the Rams led the NFL in three-tight-end usage — antithetical to the three wide receiver sets that McVay helped popularize league-wide when he first arrived.

McVay, of course, is the key architect in Los Angeles. But LaFleur was alongside him throughout those changes, helping implement the new ideas as McVay consciously began to delegate more work to his assistants.

It’s easy, then, to imagine that LaFleur might have learned some grand lessons from his time in Los Angeles. But in his first news conference as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, when asked what he’s learned as a playcaller from McVay, LaFleur instead pointed to a seemingly tiny bit of minutiae.

“The worst playcall is the late playcall,” LaFleur said.

What?

“Everyone’s got good plays, everyone has good scheme,” LaFleur said. “But it’s really leading up to that moment. How clean do we get out of that huddle, how do we operate, how fast do I get that call in there to allow these players to go do what they do best.”

It’s something that seems microscopic in importance, but it reflects how an offensive system operates. Is everyone on the same page? Is there a clear plan of attack? Does the coaching structure make sense?

And it shows up on Sundays. There’s a reason that the Rams committed the fewest pre-snap penalties in the NFL this season, while the Cardinals were repeatedly undone by self-inflicted mistakes.

Perhaps better than anything else said in their 36-minute opening news conference, this explains why the Cardinals landed on LaFleur.

Throughout the afternoon, both owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort spoke of LaFleur’s pedigree. He spent seven years under Kyle Shanahan in various roles, then three under McVay — the two most prominent branches of the modern NFL’s preeminent coaching tree, which traces back to Mike Shanahan in the early 2010s.

It was, essentially, the first thing Bidwill mentioned when explaining the hire, while Ossenfort repeatedly made the same point.

“It was everything about his experience,” Ossenfort said. “Everything about the people that he’s been around.”

And yes, working for Shanahan and McVay matters in terms of play design. No one is better than those two. But play design can be copied from the outside. Most of the league largely runs the same plays.

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.”

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Arizona

Autopsies show Arizona teens were both shot in the head while camping

Published

5 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Autopsies show Arizona teens were both shot in the head while camping

Two teenagers were fatally shot while camping northeast of Phoenix in May 2025.
Both Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, were shot in the head, autopsy reports said.
A 31-year-old man was arrested and indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths.

A 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot while camping with a female classmate northeast of Phoenix died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to the first page of his autopsy report.

Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, were camping just off State Route 87 near Mount Ord when the two were shot and killed. Investigators discovered their bodies, which had been moved into nearby brush to conceal them, on May 26, 2025.

The first page of Clark’s autopsy report, which The Arizona Republic obtained March 3, found that his death was a homicide with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The first page of Kjolsrud’s autopsy report also ruled her death a homicide with her cause of death being gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives ultimately arrested Thomas Brown, 31, of Chandler on Oct. 2, 2025, in connection with their deaths. Brown was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and remained in jail on a $2 million cash-only bond.

Detectives found Brown’s DNA on gloves inside Clark’s SUV that had Kjolsrud’s blood on them as well, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Partial autopsy reports made available following legal fight

While The Republic has obtained the first pages of both Clark’s and Kjolsrud’s autopsy reports, the remaining pages appeared to remain sealed as of March 3 since Simone Kjolsrud, Pandora’s mother, petitioned to have the autopsy reports sealed or redacted. Simone Kjolsrud argued that various details about her daughter and aspects of her personal life, potentially included in such documents, should remain private and outweigh the public’s right to know.

A Sept. 25, 2025, motion that sought to block the report’s release argued the report could contain information law enforcement hasn’t yet shared and could impair the ongoing criminal investigation.

“Simone Kjolsrud fears that, if released, her daughter’s Medical Examiner’s Report may end up on the internet or be broadcast on the news, which would undoubtedly cause additional trauma and even jeopardize her constitutional right to justice in this case,” the motion stated.

Kjolsrud asked that Clark’s autopsy be sealed as well, arguing that it would likely contain details similar to her daughter’s.

Matthew Kelley, an attorney representing The Republic and other Arizona media outlets, previously objected to the autopsies being sealed and asked that the temporary protective order be vacated.

“To be sure, these killings are particularly traumatic for a surviving family member,” Kelley wrote in his objection. “But the pain felt by a family member cannot override the public’s right to inspect public records reflecting the performance of law enforcement and other public agencies entrusted with investigating such crimes. A veil of secrecy only raises unnecessary speculation about such public performance.”

It was not immediately clear whether Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Fish, who initially ordered the autopsies remain sealed as he reviewed their contents, would unseal additional pages in their entirety or with redactions.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell.

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Arizona

No. 2 Arizona tops Iowa State to win outright Big 12 title

Published

17 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

No. 2 Arizona tops Iowa State to win outright Big 12 title

TUCSON, Ariz. — Jaden Bradley scored 17 points, Motiejus Krivas had 13 and No. 2 Arizona clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title with a 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa State on Monday night.

The Wildcats (28-2, 15-2) secured at least a share of the conference crown by using big runs in each half to beat No. 14 Kansas 84-61 on Saturday.

Arizona earned it outright by smothering Iowa State defensively to give Tommy Lloyd his 140th victory, most in NCAA history in a coach’s first five seasons.

“The Big 12 is the best basketball conference in the country,” Lloyd said while addressing the home crowd after the game, “and to win it by a couple of games, it’s pretty impressive. So take your hats off to these guys right here.”

Coming off their first home loss of the season, the Cyclones (24-6, 11-6) labored against Arizona’s physical defense, shooting 29% from the field, including 7-of-30 from 3-point range.

During his postgame news conference, Lloyd called out the narrative surrounding his team when discussing the Wildcats’ toughness and physicality.

“I think the narrative that we were soft is lazy. I mean, look at our stats, look at our analytics — we’ve always been a great rebounding team, we’ve always pounded the paint,” Lloyd said. “If you want to just be lazy and not pay attention and say we’re soft because we’re on the West Coast, be lazy, and I’d love to play against you.”

Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with 17 points, but leading scorer Milan Momcilovic was held to five points on 2-of-8 shooting. The nation’s best 3-point shooter at 51%, Momcilovic went 1-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Neither team could make much of anything, due to good defense and poor shooting.

Iowa State shot 9-of-33 from the field and 4-of-20 from 3 in the first half.

Arizona labored most of the half as the Cyclones focused on defending the paint before the Wildcats closed on a 15-3 run to lead 37-25 at halftime.

It only got worse for Iowa State to start the second half. The Cyclones missed their first eight shots as Arizona stretched the lead to 16.

Iowa State briefly found an offensive rhythm, using a 10-1 run to pull to within 44-37, but didn’t hit a field goal for more than five minutes as Arizona stretched the lead back to 15.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Arizona NAACP responds to ‘Simon Says’ case, calls for police accountability

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Arizona NAACP responds to ‘Simon Says’ case, calls for police accountability

PHOENIX — The Arizona NAACP is responding to the violent arrest of Israel Devoe, a Phoenix man who was acquitted of all charges stemming from a 2024 traffic stop in which officers punched, kneed, and elbowed him.

Sarah Tyree, president of the Arizona NAACP State Conference, said the case is part of a broader and familiar pattern.

“What happened here reflects a pattern our communities know all too well. Time and again, we see policing tactics that are dangerous and deeply harmful to civilians, yet are later justified as ‘within policy’ through carefully crafted reports and the broad protections afforded under Graham v. Connor,” Tyree wrote in an emailed statement following an ABC15 investigation.

RELATED: Phoenix man to file lawsuit after dangerous game of ‘Simon Says’ with police

Phoenix police officials found all four officers involved in Devoe’s arrest to have acted within policy, records show.

After a two-day trial, jurors unanimously found Devoe not guilty on all four of the felony charges against him — including aggravated assault on officers and resisting arrest.

In her statement, Tyree said true accountability is not possible without changing state law.

“Accountability remains out of reach in Arizona because the Peace Officers’ Bill of Rights continues to insulate misconduct from meaningful oversight, too often shifting blame onto the very communities most impacted by these encounters,” she wrote. “We also encourage Arizona voters to engage their state legislators and advocate for the repeal or amendment of the Peace Officers’ Bill of Rights to ensure systems of public safety are truly accountable to the public they serve.”

Devoe’s case again highlights problems with policing in Phoenix, which has been under scrutiny following a Department of Justice investigation that found the city had a pattern and practice of using excessive force, discrimination, and weak oversight.

ABC15 is committed to finding the answers you need and holding those accountable.

Submit your news tip to Investigators@abc15.com

The push for federal oversight ended in 2025 after the Trump administration ended such efforts across the country.

Devoe’s civil attorney, Jesse Showalter, also represents Tyron McAlpin, a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy who was violently arrested by Phoenix officers in July 2024. Showalter has said both cases reflect what he described as an accepted norm of extreme violence within the Phoenix Police Department.

A Phoenix police spokesperson said the department declines to comment because Devoe is set to file a lawsuit against the city.

This digital article was produced with the assistance of AI and converted to this platform based on the broadcast story written and reported by ABC15 Chief Investigator Dave Biscobing (Dave@abc15.com). Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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