Mike LaFleur is proud to begin his head coaching career with a win after leading the Arizona Cardinals to a 26-14 road upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon.

LaFleur started the first year of his head coaching career in the NFL. He served in multiple positions in college football and the pros, most recently being the Rams' offensive coordinator.

It wasn't until Arizona came calling this past offseason, which he accepted without hesitation. He embraced the next step of his career, leading a team as a head coach as he looks to have significant success with the franchise.

The 2026 season has started out promising for both parties. They had a tough matchup against a solid AFC squad in the Chargers, who often make the playoffs. The Cardinals had other plans as they mostly neutralized Los Angeles' attack and created big offensive highlights to pull off the upset. LaFleur commemorated the win after the game, praising his squad for playing together as a unit.

“It was the definition of the team today,” LaFleur said, per reporter Craig Grialou. “It was the ultimate team win…I was really happy with these guys.”

How Mike LaFleur, Cardinals performed against Chargers

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Mike LaFleur looks to exceed expectations with the Cardinals. The upset win over the Chargers is a major step in the right direction.

The game was close as Arizona only led 16-14 after three quarters. They locked in down the stretch, scoring 10 unanswered points to secure the road win in convincing fashion.

Jacoby Brissett had a decent day leading the attack, completing 27 out of 37 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown. Jeremiyah Love made flashes in his debut with 11 rushes for 41 yards and a touchdown, while Trey McBride caught nine passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinals will look forward to their next matchup, being at home. They host the reigning Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 as kickoff commences on Sept. 20 at 4:25 p.m. ET.