The Arizona Cardinals are quietly becoming a serious problem for the Los Angeles Rams—and it all starts with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
While Rams fans were busy analyzing draft picks and mapping out the 2026 season, their NFC West rivals were making strategic moves that could shift the balance of power in the division. LaFleur, a former Rams assistant, brings a unique edge to Arizona: he's one of the few coaches who has worked under both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. That means he knows their offensive systems inside and out—and more importantly, he knows how they think on defense too.
LaFleur doesn't just understand the X's and O's of Shanahan and McVay's schemes. He also knows the philosophies behind their defensive coordinator hires. He's spent three years collaborating with Rams DC Chris Shula and understands his system completely. He's familiar with Raheem Morris, the 49ers' current defensive coordinator, who mentored Shula during his time with the Rams. And then there's Robert Saleh—Shanahan's first DC, LaFleur's brother's best friend, and the man who gave LaFleur his first play-calling job. That's a web of connections few coaches can match.
Here's where it gets interesting: LaFleur knows exactly how to use the Shanahan offense to exploit Shula's defense. He also knows which elements of the McVay offense work best against Shanahan-style defenses. Morris may have input in San Francisco, but Shanahan sets the rules—and LaFleur knows them. He's also studied what works against Mike Macdonald's Seattle defense.
Don't underestimate LaFleur's impact on the Rams' own game plans. His fingerprints were all over their 13 personnel packages, and his role in shaping those strategies hasn't gotten nearly enough credit. Remember last season when McVay was sick and LaFleur relayed play calls during the Rams' trip to Arizona? That game showed just how deep his influence runs.
The Cardinals may have struggled last year, but with LaFleur building a game plan designed to attack the Rams' weaknesses, this rivalry just got a whole lot more interesting.