Mike LaFleur, the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, is drawing attention for his approach to leadership and coaching style as the team starts its on-field work this spring. Kendrick Bourne, a veteran wide receiver who previously worked with LaFleur in San Francisco, said on May 21 that he was impressed by LaFleur’s ability to call plays without a script and keep players engaged. “He was calling plays off the head, no script,” Bourne said. “He’s just calling plays, making us get to spots off his head… It’s dope to see it come from his mind and then the guys, and I’m proud of us, we’re catching on.”
LaFleur emphasized that what sets him apart is not energy or enthusiasm but authenticity. “I don’t see it as energy. I think it’s authenticity,” LaFleur said. “I’m not smart enough to lie and be fake. A lot of the positive feedback I have gotten throughout my career is ‘you keep it real.'” His background includes growing up in a family deeply involved in coaching—his father Denny coached at Central Michigan for years while his mother Kristi coached cheerleading and track—and following a path through various college football programs before joining the National Football League.
Players say they feel connected to LaFleur’s teaching methods and personal approach. Bourne noted that “he helped me develop… I trust in him, he trusts in me.” Running back Bam Knight recalled how LaFleur supported him during challenging times: “Even though we weren’t in the best situation with the Jets, he made every week enjoyable.” Wide receiver Michael Wilson added that “he makes you feel like you’re special as a human and not just an X and an O.”
LaFleur’s coaching journey has included stints under notable NFL coaches such as Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay—both now division rivals—and time spent with teams including Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons (reaching Super Bowl in 2016), San Francisco 49ers (as wide receivers coach then passing game coordinator), New York Jets (offensive coordinator), and Los Angeles Rams (offensive coordinator). His brother Matt is currently head coach of Green Bay Packers.
The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for an upcoming season after winning only three games last year; they will benefit from additional preseason opportunities including joint practices with Green Bay Packers—a chance for both competition and family connection between Mike and Matt LaFleur.
The Cardinals are based in Glendale, Arizona; they play home games there serving fans across greater Phoenix area as part of NFC West division. The franchise stands as one of professional football’s oldest continuously operating teams having captured an NFC championship in 2008 according to the official website.
Looking ahead, players like Bourne say their motivation this season stems from wanting to support their new coach: “He helped me at the beginning,” Bourne said about working under LaFleur earlier in his career; “and I want to help him now at the beginning of his head coaching career.” As training camp approaches later this summer, both team members and coaches look forward to building momentum under new leadership.
