Cardinals' Mike LaFleur Defends OC Choice Nathaniel Hackett

New head coach stands by hiring of veteran coordinator with recent struggles

Feb. 23, 2026 at 5:15am

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First-time head coach Mike LaFleur defended his decision to hire Nathaniel Hackett as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator, despite Hackett's recent struggles as a head coach with the Denver Broncos and offensive coordinator with the New York Jets. LaFleur said Hackett is "very highly thought of" in the NFL coaching profession and that he was his top choice for the role.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are looking to rebuild their offense after a disappointing 2022 season, and the choice of Hackett as offensive coordinator is a key decision that will shape the team's direction. Hackett's past failures have raised questions, but LaFleur is expressing confidence in him.

The details

Hackett, 46, has been an NFL coach for 17 seasons but his recent history includes being fired as head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2022 and having his play-calling duties removed as offensive coordinator of the New York Jets last season. He spent 2023 as a defensive analyst with the Green Bay Packers. Despite this, LaFleur said Hackett is "very highly thought of" in the coaching profession and that he was his top choice for the Cardinals' OC role.

  • Hackett was fired as Broncos head coach before completing the 2022 season.
  • Hackett was the Jets' OC in 2022 and the first month of 2023 before his play-calling duties were removed.
  • Hackett spent the 2023 season as a defensive analyst with the Packers.

The players

Mike LaFleur

The 38-year-old is the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, expected to call plays for the team's offense.

Nathaniel Hackett

The 46-year-old veteran NFL coach is the new offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, despite recent struggles as a head coach and coordinator.

Kyler Murray

The Cardinals' starting quarterback, who missed 10 games in 2022 due to injury and is now a candidate to be traded.

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What they’re saying

“If you guys believe one thing from this press conference, it is literally: I wanted him and nobody else. And he's here.”

— Mike LaFleur, Head Coach, Arizona Cardinals

“Learn from your adversity. Sometimes you gotta block out that noise. I've learned to block out that noise.”

— Nathaniel Hackett, Offensive Coordinator, Arizona Cardinals

What’s next

The Cardinals will continue to make decisions that will define the makeup of their roster, starting with the future of quarterback Kyler Murray, who is a candidate to be traded after missing 10 games in 2022 due to injury.

The takeaway

LaFleur's decision to hire Hackett as the Cardinals' offensive coordinator despite his recent struggles raises questions, but the new head coach is expressing confidence in the veteran coach's abilities and is committed to making him a key part of the team's rebuilding effort.