Rams fans face another heartbreak after losing top coach to division rival

It seemed too good to be true. The Los Angeles Rams know that the coaching staff has become the incubation chamber for other NFL teams during the annual coaching carousel exercise. So far, the team was relatively unscathed, as the team's advance to the NFC Championship Game was too much of a delay for teams eager to reset their team.

Well, almost unscathed.

The Arizona Cardinals, long-time patsies of the NFC West Division, are eager to turn the corner. And the team believes that LA offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is the best-suited candidate for its head coach vacancy. As ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reports, the two sides are working now to finalize a five-year deal.

As predicted by Ramblin Fan contributor Michael Haney, LaFleur ends up with a division rival. Not only is LA's coaching staff forced to regroup, but the offensive coordinator who was the secret to the offensive revival is now spearheading the Cardinals offense.

Mike LaFleur will be difficult to replace quickly

There was no doubt that offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur championed many of the offensive changes that allowed the LA Rams to erupt on the scoreboard this season. He is the master of the running game and a true tight-end whisperer.

He was the longest tenured offensive coordinator under head coach Sean McVay, filling the role for three seasons. But his influence did not seem readily apparent until 2025, his third and final season in the Horns.

This year, he managed to steer the team towards emphasizing tight ends in the passing game and rotating running backs to keep them fresh and rested. The gambles worked, as the team managed to score almost at will.

Of course, with veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford waffling about returning next season, LaFleur may view this as an opportunity to get while the getting is good. And so, the fans who had to weather the disappointment of losing the NFC Championship Game must now deal with the heartache of parting ways with one of the coaches who was instrumental in getting them there.

It's a lot to digest right now. But stay tuned, as this creates an opportunity for the team to hire a new offensive coordinator. And who knows what innovations he might bring to the offense in 2026.

As always, thanks for reading.