Fresh off a dismal 3-14 campaign in 2025 that resulted in the team firing head coach Jonathan Gannon, Arizona had a golden opportunity to hit the reset button on defense.
Instead, new head coach Mike LaFleur — after conducting a full search and interviewing external candidates — opted to bring back defensive coordinator Nick Rallis for a fourth season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
That’s a recipe for another losing season.
Why sticking with Nick Rallis is a bad idea for Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals defense was one of the league’s worst in 2025, ranking 29th in points allowed per game (28.7 PPG), near the bottom in total yards allowed (over 6,000), and struggling in pass defense (allowing a 65.6% completion rate). They allowed explosive plays at an alarming rate and failed to generate consistent pressure or turnovers. The unit’s collapse contributed heavily to blowout losses, especially late in the season.
The defense repeatedly faltered in situational football, in the red zone and in fourth-quarter stops, turning close games into blowout losses. The NFC West is currently one of the toughest divisions, and the defense showed no signs of development or improvement during his tenure.
Sticking with Rallis under a new regime is particularly head-scratching. LaFleur, coming from the Los Angeles Rams and with experience under Kyle Shanahan, could have installed a fresh voice to align with his vision or accelerate growth around the young core.
Reports
indicate he interviewed the Rams’ Aubrey Pleasant and the Seattle Seahawks’ Karl Scott. Were the candidates not interested, or is LaFleur confident in Rallis’ ability?
This suggests either limited options, internal faith in Rallis despite the track record or cost/budget considerations — none of which inspire confidence for a franchise desperate to escape the NFC West basement.