Did the Arizona Cardinals Make the Right Call on Defense?
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike Lafleur announced he will retain defensive coordinator Mike Rallis. Rallis was originally hired in 2023 by former head coach Jonathan Gannon. In his three seasons with the Cardinals, Rallis has a record of 15-36, which raises questions about why he was not replaced following the firing of former offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Both sides of Arizona’s team deeply struggled last season, yet only Petzing and Gannon were fired. Did the Cardinals make the right call on defense?
Prior to Rallis being hired in Arizona, he was the linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Coaching notable names such as Alex Singleton and T.J. Edwards, which made him stand out as a possible coaching candidate. Eventually, it landed him the role of defensive coordinator for the Cardinals. While Arizona had a rough 2025 season on both sides of the ball, the defense became a clear weakness of the team. Under Rallis, the team lost eight one-score games, many of those games being lost on the defensive side of the ball. The Cardinals also lost five games where they led in the 4th quarter, and had nine blown leads throughout the 2025 season. Including a Week Five loss to the Tennessee Titans, where they led 21-3 during the third, eventually losing 22-21. Some of these losses could be attributed to the offense not producing enough points throughout the game, and the defense constantly allowed points to be put on the board during crucial minutes.
During Rallis tenure, the defense's best season came during the 2025 season, where the team ranked 15th in points allowed per game. The defense was not elite, but they were significantly better than the majority of the league. Unlike their 2025 defense, which ended 29th in points allowed per game, averaging 28.7 points allowed per game. A significant problem with the defense was their inability to stop the run, where they ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed. Averaging 91.3 rushing yards allowed per game, the Cardinals were the lowest-ranked defense at stopping the run game. Their pass rush was slightly better as they ranked 28th in passing yards allowed. Averaging 256.1 passing yards allowed per game. Making Arizona one of the worst defenses in the NFL during the 2025 season. Regardless, it is important to note that the Cardinals were battling significant injuries on the defensive side. Including star players on the defense, such as Sean Murphy-Bunting and Josh Sweat.
Arizona’s defense has never been elite or even above average under Rallis. Although they had some significant injuries last season, their 2025 defensive campaign was average at best. Rallis has shown flashes of potential, but he has never seemed to find his footing as a defensive coordinator. With some of these notable players returning from injury, it may be Rallis's last chance to cement himself as a cornerstone for this Cardinals team. If the Cardinals' defense does not improve, they risk losing a lot more than just their defensive coordinator.
