Cardinals' Top HC Candidates amid Klint Kubiak-Raiders Rumors

The Arizona Cardinals reportedly lost out on one of their head-coaching candidates Sunday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak met with both the Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday and now "intends to try to work out a deal to become the next head coach of the Raiders."

While Schefter noted no deal can be finalized until after Kubiak's Seahawks play in the Super Bowl, it is clear he is going to be the next head coach in Las Vegas.

So Arizona will have to look a different direction, and Schefter listed the following candidates as finalists:

• Los Angeles Rams OC Mike LaFleur
• Miami Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver
• Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported the three finalists are "waiting to hear from the Cardinals."

There are plenty of question marks in Arizona, regardless of who it hires as the next head coach.

The team is coming off a fourth straight losing season and hasn't won a playoff game since the 2015 campaign. Quarterback Kyler Murray was limited to five games in 2025 and eight games in 2023 and is seen as a potential trade candidate this offseason.

Marvin Harrison Jr., who was the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, has not yet lived up to the sky-high expectations that were in place when he was selected and failed to reach 900 receiving yards in either of his first two seasons.

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Given that backdrop and questions at quarterback, an offensive coach may be the way to go.

LaFleur is familiar with the NFC West from his time as the Rams' offensive coordinator the last three seasons. All Los Angeles did was finish first in the league in points scored and total yards this past season with quarterback Matthew Stafford in the middle of MVP discussions.

Wide receivers Puka Nacua (1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches) and Davante Adams (league-best 14 touchdown receptions) also thrived in LaFleur's offense.

Still, the Cardinals were also 29th in the league in points allowed and 27th in yards allowed defensively this past season. Perhaps a defensive coach such as Weaver could help them take much-needed strides on that side of the ball.

Weaver's Dolphins were just 24th in the league in points allowed this season but ranked 10th in points allowed and fourth in yards allowed during the 2024 campaign. He also has extensive experience on defensive staffs for the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

While Morris was the head coach of the Falcons the last two seasons and was previously the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well, he too has a defensive background. 

He was the DC for the Rams for three seasons from 2021 to 2023 when the organization reached the playoffs twice and won a Super Bowl. He was also a defensive coach for the Buccaneers and Falcons before he became their head coach.

There is still plenty to consider for the Cardinals, but one of their candidates is now off the board in Kubiak.