One of the advantages LaFleur sold to reporters was Brissett’s experience, a positive quality Minshew can also claim thanks to his seven years spent between Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Kansas City. Minshew also knows LaFleur from their time spent together at the Senior Bowl back in 2019, when Minshew was entering the NFL from Washington State.
As LaFleur sees it, these advantages should help the coach and his quarterbacks hit the ground running in 2026.
“You’re not teaching a guy how to play football,” LaFleur said of Brissett. “Jacoby knows how to play football. Now we are just teaching him our system.”
Many have likely wondered why Arizona would move on from a former franchise quarterback in Murray just as the club was transitioning to a new coaching staff. In short, the Cardinals wanted a fresh start, so much that they willingly accepted a $46.5 million dead cap hit in 2026 just to part with Murray.
“We had discussions (about keeping Murray) and we’ll keep it at that,” LaFleur said. “You name it, we were talking about it. The quarterback position is the most important position in all of sports. We know that. There were lengthy conversations in so many different aspects of it and there will continue to be until we know we have the most perfect room possible.”
Brissett and Minshew exist as ideal bridge quarterbacks, although it seems as if LaFleur is content with entering 2026 with Brissett as his top choice. But that shouldn’t preclude the Cardinals from exploring another addition or two in the next month, even if 2026 quarterback draft class doesn’t include much upper-tier talent.
“Every room, if we can improve it, we’re going to try and improve it,” LaFleur said. “The quarterback room all the way down to the kicking room.”
As a newly installed coach, LaFleur has the benefit of time on his side. Arizona isn’t likely to pull the plug on his regime after one year unless it’s a complete disaster, meaning he and general manager Monti Ossenfort don’t need to rush to find a solution under center.
They’ll hope their plan for 2026 produces well enough to keep fans content until a better option surfaces.
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