The Washington Commanders need a fix on defense. That starts with finding a new defensive coordinator after firing Joe Whitt Jr. after a regular season that started with Super Bowl expectations and ended with a 5-12 regular season record.
They could do a lot worse than recently fired Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who will be in for an interview this week and will be a hot commodity for several teams looking to fill their defensive coordinator spots.
“Former Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon has a busy week ahead,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X. ” … his interview schedule is as follows: Cowboys for DC (Tuesday) — Commanders for DC Thursday — Titans for HC Sunday.”
Gannon spent a decade-plus as an NFL defensive assistant before he was hired by the Cardinals as head coach following the 2022 season and following 2 seasons as defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
While hiring Gannon might be a great fix for the Commanders, it won’t come without some questions because of the baggage he brings with him.
Gannon Tanked Miserably as Head Coach
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.”
Aside from proving he’s a terrible head coach, Gannon has had to endure several controversies on the way to his first massive, professional failure.
Multiple Fines During Short Time in Arizona
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 shows Gannon on Arizona’s sideline approaching, then 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. Gannon punched/pushed Demercado’s right arm as he walked way.
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 blunder, Tennessee rallied for a 22-21 win.
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 Super Bowl LVII.
The Eagles lost that Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, 38-35, and 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.
Commanders Bring Recently Fired NFC Head Coach in for DC Interview