Last Updated on October 24, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Mike LaFleur’s family has a remarkable connection to American football. The Arizona Cardinals head coach is married to Lauren LaFleur, a former high school track-and-field standout, and the couple has two children, Addison and Wes.
Mike is also the son of former college football player and coach Denny LaFleur and longtime high school coach Kristi LaFleur. His older brother, Matt LaFleur, is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
Raised in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Mike grew up surrounded by football, coaching and competitive athletics. Both of his parents worked as coaches, and his grandfather was also involved in high school football.
In February 2026, LaFleur became head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, creating a rare NFL family connection: two brothers simultaneously leading different professional football teams.
Here is everything publicly known about Mike LaFleur’s wife, children, parents, siblings and family background.
Mike LaFleur’s Wife: Who Is Lauren LaFleur?
Lauren LaFleur, formerly Lauren Ball, is the wife of Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur.
The couple married in July 2010 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, according to Davidson College’s official athletics biography.
Lauren and Mike both grew up in Mount Pleasant and attended Mount Pleasant High School.
Like her husband, Lauren has an athletic background. She was a successful track-and-field competitor during high school and later received recognition for her accomplishments.
According to the Arizona Cardinals’ official coaching biography, Lauren is a member of the Mount Pleasant High School Hall of Fame.
Her sporting achievements are particularly notable because Mike’s mother, Kristi LaFleur, is also a member of the same school’s Hall of Fame.
Although Mike has built his professional career in American football, Lauren’s background demonstrates the family’s broader involvement in competitive athletics.
When Did Mike LaFleur and Lauren Ball Get Married?
Mike LaFleur and Lauren Ball married in July 2010 in their hometown of Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
The wedding was reported by the local newspaper The Morning Sun and subsequently discussed in a January 2019 article published by Heavy.
According to that report, Lauren is the daughter of Michael and Cathryn Ball, while Mike is the son of Dennis and Kristi LaFleur.
Matt LaFleur, Mike’s older brother, served as his best man.
The wedding took place while Mike was beginning his college football coaching career at Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana.
At the time, he was still several years away from becoming an NFL assistant coach.
The couple subsequently experienced the frequent relocations associated with professional football coaching, living in different parts of the United States as Mike progressed through his career.
Lauren LaFleur’s Education and Athletic Background
Lauren LaFleur attended Mount Pleasant High School in Michigan, where she became an accomplished track-and-field athlete.
Her performances earned recognition from the school’s athletics program and ultimately led to her induction into its Hall of Fame.
A wedding announcement cited by Heavy also reported that Lauren obtained a degree in marketing and worked in the marketing department of Fifth Third Bank around the time of her marriage.
However, her current professional occupation has not been independently established through recent authoritative reporting.
As of now, Lauren remains a publicly identified member of the LaFleur family and has appeared alongside her husband at important NFL events.
How Lauren LaFleur Supports Her Husband’s Coaching Career
Lauren has accompanied Mike throughout several stages of his football coaching career.
In 2013, when Davidson College announced Mike as its offensive coordinator, head coach Paul Nichols publicly welcomed both Mike and Lauren to the university’s football community.
Her support was also evident when Mike became head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in February 2026.
Lauren attended his introductory press conference alongside their children and extended family.
During the event, Mike recalled a conversation he had shared with Lauren in January 2025, while he was working as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
After the Rams temporarily used Arizona’s facilities because of wildfires in Southern California, Mike told Lauren that he believed he would eventually become the Cardinals’ head coach.
Just over a year later, that prediction became reality.
In April 2026, Lauren and their children also participated alongside Mike in Pat’s Run, a community event in Arizona honoring former NFL player Pat Tillman.
Mike LaFleur’s Children: Meet Addison and Wes LaFleur
Mike LaFleur and his wife Lauren have two children: a daughter named Addison and a son named Wes.
Both children’s names are confirmed by the Arizona Cardinals’ official head coaching biography.
The children have appeared with their parents at public events, particularly following Mike’s appointment as head coach in 2026.
However, their exact birth dates, educational details and other personal information have not been extensively disclosed through reliable public sources.
Addison LaFleur: Mike LaFleur’s Daughter
Addison LaFleur is the daughter of Mike and Lauren LaFleur.
Her name appears in the Arizona Cardinals’ official biography of her father.
Addison accompanied her family to Mike’s introductory press conference on February 3, 2026, when the Cardinals formally presented him as their new head coach.
She also participated in Pat’s Run alongside her parents and younger brother in April 2026.
Although Addison has appeared in family photographs connected to official NFL events, her parents have generally maintained privacy regarding her personal life.
As of now, additional details about her schooling and interests have not been reliably established through public reporting.
Wes LaFleur: Mike LaFleur’s Son
Wes LaFleur is the son of Mike and Lauren LaFleur.
Like his sister Addison, Wes is publicly identified in his father’s official Arizona Cardinals coaching biography.
He attended the February 2026 introductory press conference, where he appeared alongside his parents and other members of the LaFleur family.
Photographs from the event showed Wes holding an Arizona Cardinals helmet while his father displayed a Cardinals jersey.
Wes also joined his family at Pat’s Run in April 2026.
Although he comes from a family with an extensive sporting background, there is no verified public information establishing whether he intends to pursue competitive football or another sport.
His personal interests and educational background remain private.
How Many Children Does Mike LaFleur Have?
Mike LaFleur has two publicly confirmed children, Addison and Wes.
The Arizona Cardinals and other official NFL publications consistently identify the couple as parents of one daughter and one son.
As of now, no additional children have been established through reliable reporting.
Mike LaFleur’s Parents: Meet Denny and Kristi LaFleur
Mike LaFleur’s parents are Denny LaFleur and Kristi LaFleur, both of whom have extensive coaching backgrounds.
His father played college football and became a longtime coach, while his mother coached track and field and competitive cheerleading.
Their careers created a family environment in which sports, education and coaching were part of everyday life.
Mike LaFleur’s Father: Denny LaFleur
Dennis “Denny” LaFleur is Mike LaFleur’s father and a former college football player and coach.
He played linebacker at Central Michigan University, where he was part of the program’s 1974 national championship team.
According to the Arizona Cardinals, Denny completed his playing career as Central Michigan’s all-time leader in career tackles.
Following his playing career, he joined the university’s coaching staff.
Denny spent more than two decades coaching football at Central Michigan before continuing his career in education and high school athletics.
He subsequently worked as a physical education teacher and football coach at Mount Pleasant High School.
His professional background was an important influence on both of his sons, Matt and Mike.
How Denny LaFleur Influenced His Sons’ Coaching Careers
Mike and Matt LaFleur grew up watching their father work as a football coach.
During childhood, they frequently accompanied him to practices, games and other team activities.
As a result, the brothers became familiar with coaching long before they pursued professional careers.
In August 2026, the Green Bay Packers published a feature about the LaFleur family’s coaching tradition.
Denny explained that watching both of his sons lead NFL teams was an emotional and unexpected achievement.
He recalled how the boys had spent much of their childhood around football sidelines while he was coaching.
However, he emphasized that neither he nor his wife forced their children to become coaches.
Instead, the parents encouraged their sons to pursue whatever activities interested them and remain committed to their decisions.
Those lessons eventually helped Mike and Matt build successful careers in professional football.
Mike LaFleur’s Mother: Kristi LaFleur
Kristi LaFleur is Mike LaFleur’s mother and a former physical education teacher and longtime athletics coach.
She attended Central Michigan University, where she participated in cheerleading.
Kristi subsequently became involved in coaching track and field and competitive cheerleading at Mount Pleasant High School.
Her achievements earned her induction into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
According to official NFL reporting, Kristi combined her coaching responsibilities with raising Matt and Mike alongside her husband.
Both sons have publicly acknowledged the impact of her positive approach to teaching and motivating young athletes.
Her experience provided an example of how coaches can encourage confidence, discipline and teamwork.
Kristi LaFleur’s Role in the Family’s Football Tradition
Kristi played an important role in helping her sons balance education, athletics and family responsibilities.
She also became familiar with the unusual challenges of supporting two children working for competing NFL organizations.
When Mike served on the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff and Matt worked with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, their mother faced divided loyalties during games between the teams.
According to previous reporting by the Los Angeles Times, Kristi even created clothing representing both organizations.
Her situation became more complicated after Matt became head coach of the Green Bay Packers and Mike joined the Arizona Cardinals.
However, she has continued supporting both sons, regardless of their NFL affiliations.
Mike LaFleur’s Siblings: Meet His Older Brother Matt LaFleur
Matt LaFleur is Mike LaFleur’s older brother and the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
The relationship is confirmed by both teams’ official coaching biographies.
Matt was born on November 3, 1979, making him approximately seven years older than Mike.
Both brothers grew up in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and eventually pursued football coaching careers.
Matt became an NFL head coach in 2019, while Mike reached the same position in 2026.
He is Mike’s only sibling identified in the authoritative family biographies reviewed.
Matt LaFleur: Mike LaFleur’s Brother
Matt LaFleur is an American football coach best known for leading the Green Bay Packers.
He attended Western Michigan University before transferring to Saginaw Valley State, where he played quarterback.
After his college football career, Matt began coaching and gradually advanced through college and NFL positions.
He worked with several professional organizations, including Washington, the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans.
In January 2019, the Green Bay Packers hired him as their head coach.
His appointment made him one of the NFL’s prominent young offensive-minded coaches.
Matt also played a role in helping his younger brother enter professional football coaching.
How Matt LaFleur Helped Mike Reach the NFL
Mike LaFleur’s first opportunity in the NFL came in 2014 when he joined the Cleveland Browns as an offensive coaching intern.
His older brother helped connect him with Kyle Shanahan, who had become Cleveland’s offensive coordinator.
In a 2026 Arizona Cardinals feature, Mike recalled that he had been working at Davidson College when Matt contacted him about the opportunity.
Mike and Lauren had been planning a short trip together when the unexpected coaching opportunity emerged.
Matt informed his younger brother that Shanahan wanted him to join the Cleveland staff.
The opportunity launched Mike’s NFL coaching career.
His professional relationship with Shanahan would subsequently continue in Atlanta and San Francisco.
Mike and Matt LaFleur’s Childhood Relationship
Despite their significant age difference, the LaFleur brothers maintained a close relationship during childhood.
According to a detailed August 2026 family interview published by ESPN, Matt was approximately seven years old when his parents welcomed baby Mike.
Matt was so proud of his younger brother that he brought him to school for a first-grade show-and-tell activity.
As Mike grew older, he frequently wanted to spend time with Matt and his friends.
The older brother sometimes found the attention frustrating, but the two remained close.
Their relationship grew stronger when Matt returned to Central Michigan for a coaching position while Mike was still attending Mount Pleasant High School.
Over time, their shared interest in football and coaching became a central part of their relationship.
How Mike and Matt LaFleur Made NFL History Together
On February 1, 2026, the Arizona Cardinals announced that Mike LaFleur would become their next head coach.
With Matt already coaching Green Bay, the brothers became one of the rare sets of siblings to hold NFL head coaching positions simultaneously.
According to the Arizona Cardinals, they were the fourth pair of brothers to serve as NFL head coaches, joining other notable coaching families such as the Harbaughs and Grudens.
In August 2026, the Packers and Cardinals held joint practices in Green Bay before a preseason game.
The event marked the first time Matt and Mike had opposed one another on a football field as NFL head coaches.
Their parents, Denny and Kristi, attended the practice and celebrated the milestone.
Mike and Matt also participated in photographs together with their parents, highlighting the family’s unusual place in professional football.
Mike LaFleur’s Grandfather and Family Coaching Legacy
The LaFleur family’s coaching tradition extends beyond Mike’s parents.
According to an August 2026 Green Bay Packers family feature, Bob Barringer, the brothers’ grandfather, coached football at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School in Michigan.
His involvement in football contributed to a multigenerational family tradition.
With Bob working as a high school coach, Denny coaching at Central Michigan and Mount Pleasant, and Kristi coaching multiple sports, Mike and Matt grew up surrounded by experienced educators and athletes.
The brothers eventually became the next generation of the family’s coaching tradition.
Mike LaFleur’s Childhood and Education
Mike LaFleur was born on March 3, 1987, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
He attended Mount Pleasant High School, where he participated in football and track and field.
As a football player, he primarily competed at quarterback.
His experience in multiple sports reflected the athletic environment created by his parents.
Following high school, Mike attended Elmhurst College in Illinois, now known as Elmhurst University.
He played college football from 2005 through 2008, initially contributing as a quarterback.
During his senior season, he transitioned to safety and became a team captain.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2009.
His education and playing experience provided a foundation for his transition into coaching.
Mike LaFleur’s Football Coaching Career
Mike LaFleur began his coaching career in 2009 as an offensive assistant at Elmhurst College.
He subsequently joined Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana, where he coached quarterbacks before becoming offensive coordinator.
In 2013, he served as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach at Davidson College.
His first NFL opportunity arrived in 2014 with the Cleveland Browns.
He then spent two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before joining the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.
In San Francisco, he worked closely with Kyle Shanahan and helped coordinate the team’s passing game.
His experience led to an appointment as offensive coordinator of the New York Jets in 2021.
After two seasons in New York, he became offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams in 2023.
During his three seasons in Los Angeles, the Rams reached the playoffs every year.
In 2025, the Rams led the NFL in points per game, total yards per game, passing yards per game and offensive touchdowns.
Those performances strengthened LaFleur’s reputation as an offensive strategist and helped him earn his first NFL head coaching opportunity.
Mike LaFleur Becomes Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals announced Mike LaFleur as their new head coach on February 1, 2026, and formally introduced him two days later.
He agreed to a five-year contract, replacing Jonathan Gannon after the 2025 season.
His introductory press conference was particularly meaningful because several members of his family attended.
Lauren and their children, Addison and Wes, were present, along with his parents, his brother Matt and members of Lauren’s family.
Mike described Arizona as a place that had felt familiar since his previous visits with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.
His appointment also created an opportunity for the family to experience two NFL head coaching careers simultaneously.
As of now, Mike LaFleur serves as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, while Matt continues leading the Green Bay Packers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mike LaFleur’s Family
Who is Mike LaFleur’s wife?
Mike LaFleur’s wife is Lauren LaFleur, formerly Lauren Ball. She is a former track-and-field athlete and member of the Mount Pleasant High School Hall of Fame.
When did Mike LaFleur get married?
Mike LaFleur married Lauren Ball in July 2010 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Does Mike LaFleur have children?
Yes. Mike LaFleur and his wife Lauren have two children, daughter Addison and son Wes.
Who is Mike LaFleur’s daughter?
His daughter is Addison LaFleur, whose name is confirmed by the Arizona Cardinals’ official coaching biography.
Who is Mike LaFleur’s son?
His son is Wes LaFleur, who appeared alongside the family during Mike’s introduction as Cardinals head coach in February 2026.
Who is Mike LaFleur’s father?
His father is Dennis “Denny” LaFleur, a former Central Michigan linebacker and longtime football coach.
Who is Mike LaFleur’s mother?
His mother is Kristi LaFleur, a former physical education teacher and track-and-field and competitive cheerleading coach.
Is Mike LaFleur related to Matt LaFleur?
Yes. Matt LaFleur is Mike LaFleur’s older brother. Matt coaches the Green Bay Packers, while Mike coaches the Arizona Cardinals.
How many siblings does Mike LaFleur have?
Matt LaFleur is Mike’s only publicly identified sibling in the official family reporting reviewed.
Who is Mike LaFleur’s grandfather?
His grandfather Bob Barringer coached football at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School in Michigan, according to the Green Bay Packers.
What is Mike LaFleur’s full name?
His full name is Michael Dennis LaFleur.
Where is Mike LaFleur from?
He is from Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where he attended Mount Pleasant High School before playing college football at Elmhurst.
What NFL team does Mike LaFleur coach?
As of now, Mike LaFleur is the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, having been hired in February 2026.
Valentim Tereshkova is a sports journalist and NFL analyst specializing in team dynamics, scheme breakdowns, and league-wide trends. Covering everything from offseason roster construction and Draft developments to Sunday game plans and Super Bowl contenders, he delivers clear, sharp commentary on the gridiron. Valentim combines stat-driven analysis with a passion for football storytelling to give readers an expert look into the AFC and NFC.
