Cardinals Shift Attention to Klint Kubiak as HC Search Continues

The Arizona Cardinals‘ head coach search took an unexpected turn. It appeared that Arizona was set to hire Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. But LaFleur left Arizona without a deal, sparking concerns among the fan base and NFL circles.

While the decision looks puzzling at first glance, it could be the Cardinals doing due diligence. General manager Monti Ossenfort and team owner Michael Bidwill have interviewed 17 coaching candidates. One of them is Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

With Kubiak’s team set to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, there is a window of opportunity for a second interview. ESPN’s Peter Schrager reports that both the Cardinals and the Raiders, the only two teams without a head coach in place, will take that opportunity.

Once the Cardinals complete the interview with Kubiak, they should move quickly to land their next coach. Unless Arizona leads the Seattle offensive coordinator, they should have their next hire in place before the Super Bowl on February 8.

Why the Cardinals Are Interested in Klint Kubiak

Kubiak comes with a stronger resume than LaFleur going into this head coaching cycle. The Seahawks’ offensive coordinator actually calls the plays for Seattle, leading one of the top offenses in football.

Under Kubiak, the Seahawks boast one of the top offenses in football. That unit collectively ranks third in points (28.4) and eighth in yards (351.3) per game. He’s finally unlocked the promising ceiling Sam Darnold carried into the NFL, turning him into a star quarterback.

The Seahawks have some great skill players, led by All-Pro receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards in 2025. They also ranked 10th in rushing, behind their two-headed attack of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.

The Cardinals are hoping that Kubiak can work his magic on their offense. They have some notable skill players with tight end Trey McBride and receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.

McBride has established himself as one of the game’s premier tight ends, setting the single-season receptions record at the position in 2025. But they haven’t been able to get much out of Harrison, who missed a lot of games last season with a concussion. The idea is that Kubiak’s offense could give him a similar boost as it did his Ohio State teammate.

It may be that offense is why Mike LaFleur showed interest in the job in the first place. And it could be the key selling point to lure Kubiak to Arizona.

Cardinals Are Playing With Fire

While the Cardinals are taking their time with their head coaching search, they tread a very thin line. There is still a chance that Arizona loses out on both Kubiak and LaFleur. How that could happen is either coordinator elects to either stay with their current team or take the Raiders job.

Such an event would be considered a “failure” by Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro. Co-host Dave Burns notes the team is playing a dangerous game with their coaching search.

The Cardinals will eventually hire a head coach, but who they hire will say a lot about the organization. Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile was one of the reported finalists from The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini. However, Campanile has since returned to Jacksonville in 2026.

Kubiak will likely have his choice between Arizona and Las Vegas. The Raiders already have the No. 1 pick, which they will use to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Or at least that’s what’s considered the selling point for a new head coach.

Plenty of reputations are on the line over the next two weeks. Botching this coaching hire will spell the end for Ossenfort’s tenure as GM and another regime change. For a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in the last decade, it further alienates an already disenfranchised fan base.

Michael McDermott Michael McDermott is a writer at Heavy Sports covering the Arizona Diamondbacks and Major League Baseball. Michael has 10 years experience writing about the D-backs and their farm system for AZ Snake Pit, Burn City Sports, and Diamondbacks On SI. More about Michael McDermott