The writing was on the wall for Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon quite some time ago. It took until the season finally, mercifully ended for him to find out exactly what it said.
On NFL Black Monday, Gannon was fired just 3 seasons into his tenure and a 15-36 overall record capped by a 3-14 record this season and a 37-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the regular season finale.
“He never reached the playoffs while also never finishing higher than third in the NFC West,” ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss wrote on Monday, January 5. “Arizona went 4-13 in 2023 to finish last in the division and 8-9 last season to finish third. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort will spearhead the search for a new head coach. Ossenfort and Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill talked last night and then again this morning before informing Gannon that he was being fired. Gannon was able tell the players and coaches during a team meeting this morning.”
Gannon, 43 years old, was hired as Arizona’s head coach after spending 2 seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 and 2022.
Controversy Followed Gannon From Start
Gannon’s tenure with the Cardinals was tinged with controversy from before he even coached his first game. That controversy may have even cost the Eagles a Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2022 season.
The Cardinals ended up having to pay a fine and swap third round draft picks with the Eagles — giving the Eagles the higher pick — after they were found to have negotiated with Gannon during the one-week impermissible period for contact before the Super Bowl.
In a game the Eagles lost 38-35, it’s impossible not to speculate the slimmest of margins may have cost the Eagles — say, for example, something missed when Gannon was negotiating his deal with the Cardinals instead of game planning for the Chiefs.
Ugly Sideline Incident Led to $100,000 Fine
The Cardinals fined Gannon $100,000 for a fiery moment between himself and running back Emari Demercado in a Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
The viral video of the incident showed Gannon on Arizona’s sideline yelling at Demercado after he let go of the ball right before crossing the goal line on what should have been a 72-yard touchdown run but was instead a touchdback. At one point, Gannon punched/pushed Demercado’s right arm as he walked away.
“I just told (the team), I kind of let the moment of what happened get the better of me there,” Gannon said on Monday, October 6, before the fine came down the next day.
The touchdown would have given the Cardinals a 28-6 lead over the Titans with 12:40 left in the fourth quarter. Following Demercado’s fumble, Tennessee rallied for a 22-21 win.
“The moment Jonathan Gannon struck Emari Demercado on the sidelines with a closed fist, he was done in Arizona.” Josh Gitt wrote on X. “He lost the locker room at that point, as evidenced with their 9 game losing streak to end the season.”
Gannon was one of 4 NFL head coaches fired in a 24-hour period following the end of the regular season along with Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons), Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns) and Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders).
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