The Arizona Cardinals took the first steps in forging their 2026 path on January 5, firing head coach Jonathan Gannon amid the Black Monday news. In doing so, they also revealed their immediate plan of action to find his replacement, retaining general manager Monti Ossenfort to lead the search.
“Sources: Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on January 5.
The insider added that “Arizona closed this season with nine straight losses, ultimately costing Gannon his job.” And that “Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort will spearhead the search for a new head coach.”
Gannon was on the hot seat for most of the 2025 campaign, although there were some rumors that he could be retained for one final opportunity. In the end, the Cardinals elected to move forward with a clean slate at the position, and it will be Ossenfort plotting the organization’s direction in 2026.
“The Cardinals will be retaining GM Monti Ossenfort, who will lead the search for a new head coach, per source,” The Athletic’s lead NFL insider Dianna Russini confirmed, echoing Schefter.
Russini also reminded fans that another massive decision looms, following the head coaching search.
“Questions surround the future of QB Kyler Murray in Arizona,” she wrote, making quarterback and head coach the two top priorities for Ossenfort to figure out moving forward.
NFL Insider Reports Cardinals Likely to Move on From Kyler Murray After Jonathan Gannon Firing News
Once Ossenfort hires a new head coach, the focus will shift to Murray and his $53 million-plus cap hit in 2026. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals are still likely to move on from their franchise QB after Gannon’s firing news.
“The Cardinals have major QB questions and with the likelihood that they’ll move on from Kyler Murray, the new coach has plenty of questions,” Rapoport weighed in on January 5. “But there is plenty of talent on this roster.”
Murray’s impact has often been debated at great length. Overall, the former No. 1 pick has not elevated this franchise to where it wants to be; that much is clear.
However, there are statistics that support the idea that the Cardinals organization has failed Murray throughout his tenure.
“The Cardinals finished 2-19 the past three years when Kyler Murray wasn’t on the field, including 1-11 this season,” Cardinals reporter Kyle Odegard cited after the Gannon news. “They were 13-17 when he played.”
Now, obviously, neither record is great, but Odegard appears to be making the argument that Murray helps Arizona more than he hurts them.
Ossenfort will most likely have the largest say in whether Murray stays or goes, but it’s possible that his new head coaching hire could sway him one way or the other. For now, Murray’s 2026 status is very much up in the air.
Cards in Position to Draft Next Franchise QB in 2026
Part of the reasoning behind moving on from Murray is the Cardinals’ 2026 draft positioning. The fallout of Week 18 elevated Arizona into a top-three selection.
The only issue is that the two teams in front of them — the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets — desperately need a new quarterback. So, theoretically, the Cardinals could be getting their choice of the third-best QB prospect in what is thought to be a weaker class at the position.
Going one step further, there appears to be a consensus top two at quarterback, assuming Oregon’s Dante Moore declares. He and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza are the two early favorites to go No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2026 NFL draft, leaving Arizona with yet another big decision once they’re on the clock.
Cardinals Reveal Clear Plan of Action After Jonathan Gannon Firing