Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur arrives in 2026 with a clear objective: to unlock the full offensive potential of Marvin Harrison Jr. As the play-caller during games, LaFleur assumes direct responsibility for helping the talented wide receiver reach elite status within the NFL.
LaFleur expressed confidence in Harrison’s future productivity, stating,
“We’re going to put him in the position to be successful,”
to PHNX Sports. Harrison, a former first-round draft pick, enters a pivotal third season where demonstrating greater impact will be vital for Arizona’s offense.
Harrison’s Role in the Cardinals’ Receiving Corps and Offensive Strategy
In 2025, the Cardinals saw strong performances from wide receivers Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride, with Wilson reaching 1,000 receiving yards and McBride setting a new single-season receiving record for a tight end. Alongside Harrison, these three players are slated to be the focal points of the team’s passing game in 2026.
LaFleur stressed the versatility inherent in his offensive scheme:
“I think foundationally, what has been really neat about the systems that I’ve been in, the system that we’ll run is ‘Who is the slot, who is the X receiver?’ They’re all interchangeable. You try to maximize however many plays, let’s call it 65 to 70 plays a game. You try to make sure all 65 to 70 matter, and those guys are in the right position at the right time.”
McBride is expected to serve as the primary threat over the middle of the field, with Wilson deployed on the outside as a reliable possession and red zone target in a role similar to Davante Adams. Harrison’s assignment could mirror that of Puka Nacua with the Los Angeles Rams, where LaFleur previously coached, involving moving him around formations to create advantageous matchups.
Regarding Harrison’s deployment, LaFleur shared,
“We’ll move them around, just like we do all those guys. [We’ll] have a better idea of that once we get going into May and then obviously through training camp to see where it’s all going to fit.”
The May offseason training activities (OTAs) will be closely watched for insights into how the Cardinals intend to utilize their receivers.
Continuity in Coaching Staff Enhances Passing Game Development
The Cardinals retained Connor Senger as their passing game coordinator, despite his interest from the Seattle Seahawks for an offensive coordinator position. Additionally, offensive line coaches Justin Frye and Chris Cook remain part of the staff, providing continuity on the line and in passing protection schemes.
To support the receivers, Arizona added Tony Sorrentino as assistant wide receivers coach. Sorrentino brings valuable experience from his four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked alongside elite receivers such as Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Jordan Addison.
A crucial addition is the hiring of two-time Pro Bowler Matt Schaub as quarterbacks coach. Although LaFleur never coached Schaub directly, he noted their connection at the Atlanta Falcons staff in 2016 when Schaub backed up Matt Ryan, that year’s NFL MVP. LaFleur said,
“I was on the Atlanta Falcons staff, and I was with the receivers when he came in in 2016.”
He elaborated on Schaub’s influence in quarterback development: “He played a big part in the success Matt Ryan had. It’s crazy to maybe say that, but they’re side conversations. How they would take what Kyle [Shanahan] and my brother were asking them to do schematically and then put it in quarterback terms. Always kind of knew from that time, and saw the experiences before that when Kyle had with him in Houston.
“I know Kyle has always tried to get him, to get him to be a coach there. It just didn’t time up there, didn’t time up in Green Bay, but luckily it timed up for us. I actually got the call from my brother that Matt Schaub wanted to end up coaching, and it was like ‘Wow, I just hit the jackpot’ in that room.”
LaFleur holds strong faith in Schaub’s coaching ability, highlighting him as a valuable asset to the Cardinals. Schaub will be tasked with guiding the team through an important quarterback transition, as Arizona is expected to move on from Kyler Murray in the near future. LaFleur remains optimistic about this change, confident Schaub can develop the next quarterback effectively.
Health and Development Will Be Keys to Harrison’s Success
Marvin Harrison Jr. faced injury setbacks in 2025 that limited him to 10 games and contributed to a slight drop in his yards per game from 52.1 as a rookie to 50.7 in his sophomore season. For the Cardinals to maximize the value of their No. 4 overall pick, Harrison’s presence and production must increase significantly.
A full, healthy season in 2026 will allow Harrison to adapt fully to LaFleur’s offensive system and grow within the Cardinals’ evolving receiving group alongside Wilson and McBride. With concerted coaching efforts and strategic usage, Harrison has the potential to emerge as an elite receiving threat in the NFL.
“We're going to put ‘em in the position to be successful.”
Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur on how he plans to deploy WR Marvin Harrison Jr. in his offense. pic.twitter.com/Vjfqvlc15J
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) February 24, 2026
“I just hit the jackpot in that room.”
Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur has believed QB coach Matt Schaub will be a good coach @PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/goHw9Kq10z
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) February 24, 2026
