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Pro Football Network ranks Nick Rallis as the second-lowest returning DC in 2025.
The Arizona Cardinals gave Nick Rallis, their defensive coordinator for the third straight year, a lot of help this offseason. Based on his place in Pro Football Network’s rankings of all 32 NFL defensive coordinators, he needed the help.
He is not highly regarded in the 2025 rankings, landing in the bottom five of the league.
NFL defensive coordinator rankings: Where Cardinals DC Nick Rallis ranks
Rallis comes in at No. 28, ahead of only the following DCs:
- Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers
- Terrell Williams, New England Patriots
- Kelvin Sheppard, Detroit Lions
- Anthony Campanile, Jacksonville Jaguars
The bottom three are new to their jobs, so essentially Rallis is viewed here as the second-worst returning DC in 2025.
Nick Rallis has gotten off to a rough start to his tenure with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. His defense finished last in Defense+ and only saw a minor improvement to 27th in 2024.
However, they have plenty of young defenders on the rise in Arizona. The front office added players like Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell in 2025, which should help the pass rush. Rallis has some concerns as a defensive coordinator, but he has a chance to break out in Year 3.
If you look at the numbers, Rallis’ defenses have not been good. If you watch the games, you see a disciplined, high-effort group making physical plays. The last two seasons, they have lacked in talent, partly because of injuries and partly because of roster building. Their top two defensive linemen — Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols — a starting outside linebacker expected to be their top pass rusher — BJ Ojulari — and their 2023 sack leader — Dennis Gardeck — all suffered season-ending injuries early in the year or before the season began.
Opposing offenses stayed on the field a long time. The Cardinals were bad at sacks. They were not good against the run and they did not force turnovers.
But Rallis got them to play better than the talent on the field, so that says something.
Now, with major additions on defense in free agency and the draft, and with the return from injury of their best players from last season in the front season, Rallis will have the personnel to be able to prove he is more than one of the worst in the league.
Watch out for this unit being in the top half of the league in 2025.
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