Three head coaching jobs in the NFL have been filled with Matt LaFleur taking up the prestige role with the Green Bay Packers, while Bruce Arians joins Tampa Bay and the Arizona Cardinals opted for Kliff Kingsbury.
The job in Green Bay was the most sought-after position in the off-season given the history and profile of the Packers and the fact they have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
The Packers opted in the end to go for a younger, more inexperienced option by hiring 39-year-old LaFleur who had just one season as the Titans offensive coordinator. His association with LA rams head coach Sean McVay, who’s been a revelation in his first head coaching job, may have had some sway in the matter.
"We are very excited to welcome Matt as the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers," said Packers president Mark Murphy said.
"We found a coach with the background and experience that we think will get us back to playing winning football. We're also excited about the person - he is bright with a great work ethic and a perfect fit for Green Bay and the organization."
Arians tempted out of retirement
Veteran coach Bruce Arians retired after the end of last season with the Arizona Cardinals but has been tempted back by taking the job at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 66-year-old is a well-respected figure in the league and will be tasked with getting the most out of QB Jameis Winston and some fine attacking talent in Tampa after signing a four-year deal.
"Bruce Arians is one of the NFL's most well-respected coaches over the past two decades, and we are excited to have him leading our team," said Bucs owner Bryan Glazer.
"Throughout this process, we focused on finding the right coach with a proven ability to elevate our players and lead our team forward.
“Bruce has played a large role in the development and career success of some of our league's best players, and we look forward to seeing him continue that work here with our franchise."
Kingsbury makes Arizona move
Arizona have gone down the same route as the Packers having hired former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, who is known for developing quarterbacks having also won the best college QB award himself in 2002.
Kingsbury coached Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and the cardinals will hope he can help get the best out of rookie Josh Rosen in what will be his second season in the NFL.
"I'm excited at that," he said. "I've been around football my entire life. I played in this league, coached at the college level, and always been fascinated by the NFL and the offensive trends going on these days. I feel like it was a perfect time, and just fired up to be here.
"Cardinals fans, can't tell you how excited I am to be your head coach. You see where it's going - you see where it's been, where it's going. Have a young quarterback, lots of salary-cap space, and a team that continued to fight throughout the season."
