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The Arizona Cardinals will keep defensive coordinator Nick Rallis in his current role after allowing 142 points across their last four games, a stretch that has put the defense at the center of the club’s early-season problems. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Monday that no changes are coming to play-calling responsibilities or staff roles following the 45-21 loss to the Detroit Lions.
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Locked On Cardinals host Alex Clancy argued that Arizona’s decision to stand pat looks worse because of the recent scoring totals. The Cardinals surrendered 31 points in Week 2, 36 in Week 3, 30 defensive points in Week 4 and 45 against Detroit, according to Clancy’s accounting.
LaFleur acknowledged the urgency after the Lions loss but said the Cardinals will seek improvement without reshuffling responsibilities. His decision keeps Rallis in charge as Arizona prepares for the Los Angeles Rams, an opponent Clancy expects to test a defense that has allowed at least 30 points in four straight games.
Clancy said a midseason coordinator change would not guarantee better results, but he viewed the lack of one as difficult to justify after the recent run. He argued that the Cardinals have not received enough support from either side of the ball, noting that the offense also failed to sustain its early success in the past two games.
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Arizona now has to show that continuity is more than an organizational preference. The Rams game offers Rallis and LaFleur an immediate chance to demonstrate that the Cardinals can correct the coverage, communication and consistency issues without changing the staff.
LaFleur’s choice leaves the Cardinals with the same coaching structure for Week 6. Another high-scoring result against Los Angeles would intensify scrutiny on whether that approach can last.
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This story was originally published October 13, 2026 at 10:31 PM.