Mike LaFleur - Head Coach, cardinals Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-07 | Full transcript (primary source).
Mike LaFleur, Head Coach of the Cardinals, addressed the media on September 7, 2026, during a press conference focused on team leadership and player dynamics. The discussion included insights on the recent captain selections and the importance of player influence within the locker room.
Transcript
LaFleur: Have you guys figured out who the captains are yet? Yeah, we voted for it last week, and that was basically the last thing I told them before they went off for their three days. So you got Jacoby and Fro on offense, Casey Kreider on special teams, and Buda and Mack on defense.
Reporter: Was it a player vote, or was it coaches' vote?
LaFleur: It was only me. No, I'm just kidding. Don't do that. No, it was all players, yeah. It was good.
Reporter: No, how much do you rely on those guys? How much does the coaching staff rely on those guys? What is their role?
LaFleur: As a captain? Yeah, I mean, outside, we know their roles as a captain. Yeah, I mean, hey, listen, whether you're a captain or not a captain, you just be who you are within your own personality. However, when you do get voted a captain, obviously, that's kind of saying that your teammates, the locker room looks up to you. I can't think of five better people to look up to in terms of just guys that are going to keep it real with each other, hold people to standards, communicate with me, making sure. I don't need to know everything that's going on in the locker room. I just need to know the stuff that's pertinent. But just because it's just those five doesn't mean that there are other guys. I mean, there was quite a few guys that I won't mention that were right up there in the running for it. And those guys are still going to have a voice, too. And some of it's going to be through the silent tape, if that makes sense, because that's about as important as anything. Not what you say, but actually what you're doing.
Reporter: What is Jeremiah's status for him, or something?
LaFleur: Progression. He'll be, he was out there moving around today. So we'll see on Wednesday. I have a better idea for all those guys that I know you guys are going to ask about on Wednesday.
Reporter: How are you optimizing, though, that he does have a chance to play?
LaFleur: I feel good. And Will Johnson, I don't know. Are you required now to tell us what he has?
Reporter: Not yet.
LaFleur: And honestly, guys, I'm going to be as transparent as I can. But at the same time, I think we know there's a team over in California that's listening to this, too, right now. So we don't, per the rules, don't need to say anything this week. And quite honestly, it's going to be for every team. I mean, 48 hours is a huge deal in terms of some of these guys recovering, rehab, and all those kind of things. And so we'll have a better idea for a lot of these guys on Wednesday, and you'll see it on the report.
Reporter: What do you know that's week one? Is there any added just excitement knowing that you're finally here?
LaFleur: I've been pleased with the way these guys have approached every single block, being where their feet are. You could definitely feel that they had the three days off. They were ready to get back to work today. We didn't practice. We just did a jog through, kind of gave them the first installment of the run game and stuff like that from an offense perspective. Obviously, Nick did some stuff from defense, Gobi and teams. What I really anticipate to feel it is on Wednesday, because obviously, that's going to be that first real Wednesday work day, if you will.
LaFleur: This has been like a six-week process. It's been a start trading camp. In retrospect, as a first-year coach, has this flown by, or has it gone slowly?
LaFleur: It depends on what minute you ask me that. Sometimes it feels like we just got to the wigwam three days ago. Other times, it feels like it was five years ago. It's hard to explain, but it's right where we're supposed to be. We got what we wanted out of the camp, and then we'll see what it looks like come Sunday. But looking forward to a great week of preparation before we even worry about Sunday.
Reporter: Is today's work, is it more about setting up the routine of a regular week, or did you get something very specific on it?
LaFleur: Yeah, I would say we got something very specific. I was pleased with myself and the offensive staff over the three days. They probably didn't like how much their phones were blowing up, but I feel good about where we're at with the wrong game. And the initial thoughts in the past game got probably too many, but that usually happens on that weekend. But it was a really cool 72 hours, just beat back and forth with my kids to the office, watching some college football. It was neat.
Reporter: On the back of the process, did it pretty much go according to your plan that you had devised it before camp started? Or were there surprises along the way that kind of reset the schedule or changed the schedule?
LaFleur: Yeah, no, it's a good question. Glendale was so specific because we knew we were never going to have to deal with the weather elements and all that kind of stuff. I was most looking forward to what the weather was going to bring. What I learned is these guys over-exaggerated a little. It really wasn't that bad on some of them. I've heard we've kind of gotten lucky compared to the previous years. But I thought with those adjustments, I thought the guys handled it well, whether we were going to be half in the indoor, half outside, all outside, moving up a little bit of the practice time, stuff like that. So I appreciate how the guys went with me. I'm very much in a bad way. I'm OCD with routine and all that kind of stuff. But I knew we were going to have to fight that to kind of figure out what was going to be the best to, one, get these guys prepared to go play as well as they can on Sundays. But two, hey, these elements are different than California. These elements are different than New York. So I appreciate how those guys just kind of handled it block by block and almost day by day with some of those adjustments we made. But there was nothing really that major because, again, it wasn't as bad. Our guys handled the heat. I thought, well.
Reporter: Going into this first, do you feel like any sense of uncertainty in terms of the actual way that you guys are structuring things, in terms of preparing for the Chargers, structuring a week of in-season practice because it's your first time doing it?
LaFleur: No, because, no, not too bad because, I mean, obviously it's going to be new for our guys. But me personally, I mean, this is basically the same as what we did for three years in LA. And what we did, particularly in Glendale, where it was all the meetings, the lifting, the training and stuff at the wigwam, getting our nutrition, getting our recovery. And then once we went to the stadium at State Farm, we'd do our walkthrough. Then we'd obviously have the hour, hour and 15 break, whatever it was, and then practice. Well, that's exactly what these guys are going to feel on Wednesday and Thursday. So I didn't feel like it was necessary to have to do a mock week last week. I wanted them to get their work in and get in and get out. I never want to waste these guys' times. The big work days, obviously, in the league are Wednesdays and Thursdays. And like I told them today, it's going to feel like training camp, just not as many hours, because you're not going to go as long as training camp. But we're going to get our work in. We're going to get our necessary meeting times. We're going to get our necessary walkthrough times. And then the big challenge will be, depending on how the weather is on Wednesday and Thursday, how much we're going to be in the tent and how much we're going to be outside, because we can't be full in both. They can't do it for their bodies. And people smarter than me, in terms of the science behind the pounding on a turf field. But at the same time, we've got to obviously manage this weather a little bit. But no, I mean, I think our guys, like I said, I know I'm long winded on it, but I think our guys are going to feel really good about it, because it's going to feel like those training camp days.
Reporter: With Jacobi being the start, what does it show you about how long it feels about him after going there?
LaFleur: Captain, you're saying? Yep. Yeah, I mean, that wasn't shocking to me, just in terms of his interaction with, not just the offense, but this whole team. So again, the more and more I'm around and the more I get it, in terms of the person, always knew it from afar. But just having that first however long it's been, seven weeks or so of being with him, it's been great.
Reporter: Captain, this game week, have you, what's it like been installing with him and talking about that first quarter in particular?
LaFleur: He was actually probably the only one that wasn't annoyed by my constant texts over the weekend. He was, every text I sent, it's like he ended up coming back with even a better answer than the question, so I really actually appreciated those three, I haven't told him that yet. The other guys are probably like, leave me alone. So it's, but no, it's been preliminary in terms of just this, he's got the wrong game plan. I sent him some two minute thoughts and stuff like that. So he'll get the first real crack at it, like all these guys on offense in terms of the past game when we get it on Wednesday. But again, the way it's structured, it's so similar to, like I was saying, how we did it in training camp. It's going to feel that way. That's why I feel so strong about what we do in training camp. It doesn't necessarily lead to wins. It's just what we think is the best in terms of preparing these guys every single day, like it's the first time they've heard it.
Reporter: Is that going to be standard operating procedure for you with the texts and the constant communication of that normal week one?
LaFleur: It's all new. I mean, it's a unique one because we had the three, like they couldn't be in the building, right? Which is good, like I do think what the league has done, getting rid of the fourth game and then making that weekend. I do think that is a positive because all 32 teams are on the same. Obviously, you've got the teams in Australia and playing early, but they'll get theirs through this weekend. So yeah, but yeah, I'm a FaceTimer in texture.
Reporter: Coach, how do you balance your time personally between a lot of the offense that we're talking about, but defense as well, and how you had to learn that this off season as a head coach for the first time?
LaFleur: Yeah, I mean, one naturally, I love the defensive side of the ball. But I'll say this in terms of, because I think what you're getting at is helping those guys and help coaching them up. And I do think there's a fine line between what I tell Nick and those defensive guys. Like again, I haven't been with, let's just say, Mike McDaniel since 2020. Like he's evolved, like we've all evolved. And now he's got a whole new quarterback and a whole new offensive staff. Like who knows what they're going to look like? You think you do, but I'm not going to let the preseason lie to us. So I just know we're going to have our hands full. He's a guy that, as we all know, is a great mind, really good person. And now he's got a really good quarterback to boot.
Reporter: Outside of this injury that he's currently dealing with, what do you think is going into his second year? What do you see bring to this defense or change about this defense if he kind of takes that next step in a second?
LaFleur: Yeah, I mean, I think, like I said, the best corners is that interior or exterior, outside linebacker that causes problems with quarterbacks. I'll always stand on that. But when you've got a corner that you just feel confident, first, second, and third down, it can change the game. It can change the way teams scheme against you. You don't have to protect them as much, although just because don't take advantage of those really good corners. Because every once in a while, they wouldn't mind some over-the-top help and stuff like that or to play off. But his greatest strength, he's got a lot of good strengths, but his greatest strength is up here. He is a smart, smart football player. And we saw that last year when we played him.
Reporter: Again, the guy that I'm always going to respect in terms of understanding and knowledge of other defensive players and Matthew Stafford, he didn't like playing against him. And so Will's got to go play his game, use that to his advantage, and then continue to take those steps.
Reporter: What is it that Matthew and those offensive guys didn't like while playing against him?
LaFleur: I'm trying to think of how not to say too much right here. But I mean, I guess this isn't really too much. You don't really know what Will's going to do. And so if you're a quarterback, at least if you're like, hey, this guy's really good, but I know he's going to be doing this. I know he's going to hold. I know he's going to undercut it. It's like, at least you know. And then you can game plan against it. But with Will, it just kind of always felt like when we were playing him, it's like, I don't know if he's going to play off. I don't know if he's going to squat. I don't know if he's going to back up. I really don't know. I mean, you guys probably remember the play. Remember when Puka ran that hitch and then did that little whirly, and then Matthew kind of stepped up. You guys are kind of looking at me like you don't. But you go back in that last game of our sofa, you'll see it. We were trying something on Will. And it's like, wow, we were so far off on that. Because you just don't know. And so now all of a sudden, schematically, you're chasing some things that may or may not be there. And you don't know why Will was doing it. He just maybe felt something. Maybe he felt like he was getting a shot on him. Those guys that are just different level upstairs, they instinctually just kind of feel things. So go back and look at it. You'll know which one I'm talking about. And then Matthew made an incredible play that he still got 10 yards. But that was not scheme related at all.
Reporter: There's a lot of Will's, Will being a rookie and not having enough tape on him. Or is that just kind of how?
LaFleur: I think that's how he's always been. Again, being an offensive coordinator, I wasn't studying his tape. But I do recall all those top guys for second, third rounders. You kind of know because you're talking to the defensive staff. And you just know. And the guys in LA had a lot of respect for him because of that.
Reporter: If you look at some of the numbers from last year, he was performing at a much higher level the first half of the season before he started dealing with some back hip injuries. Did you see that at all in his tape that he looked like he was maybe healthier or better?
LaFleur: That'd be hard for me to comment on. I mean, I watched, I'd say, more cut ups and stuff like that. I wouldn't know if it was October 1st or December 1st. So that'd be a hard one for me to comment on.
Reporter: Going back to your balance, your offensive defense responsibilities. You're looking on the defensive side. One of your captains, make Buddhist selection probably speaks for herself. But just how nice is it that to have him? And maybe even for you to kind of just lean on him, have some conversations, getting adjusted to the things that go into your role.
LaFleur: Yeah, it's like I've said numerous times. I'm just glad that we don't have to game plan against him. It's in a different realm. But it's somewhat in the same of like you just don't know where Buddha's going to be. He's a hard guy to game plan for. So first and foremost, I'm happy about that. I finally get to be on his side. But he's been a joy. He doesn't look like he's played 10 years. He looks like he could go another 10. And he loves being out there. I'm excited to see what it looks like on Sunday. But definitely lean on him. He's another guy that I text quite often on different things. And hopefully they're shooting me straight in how they feel.
Reporter: How would you describe your relationship with Jacobi? And kind of how it's evolved and grown over seven weeks when you really haven't made face time with him up until you've done it.
LaFleur: Yeah, no, I mean, it's like I'm not trying to be someone I'm not. He's trying not to be someone he's not. I mean, we're just going about it every day. He's got a job to do. I got a job to get him prepared and get this team prepared. And like I said, it just whether he was not a good dude, he probably wouldn't be here and he probably wouldn't have the career he did. All that's irrelevant. We have jobs to do. And so we take it as such. It just so happens to be he's a good dude and someone that I enjoy being around.
