The Arizona Cardinals have fired head coach Jonathan Gannon following three seasons leading the franchise, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Monday. The team later announced the news.
Gannon's dismissal comes after a 37-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the regular-season finale, the Cardinals' ninth defeat in a row to finish 3-14 on the year.
Arizona will be retaining general manager Monti Ossenfort, who will be part of the search for the club's new head coach following Gannon's exit, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported.
"This morning, we spoke with Jonathan Gannon and let him know that we were going to go in a different direction with our head coach," owner Michael Bidwill said in a Monday news conference. "Jonathan is a very smart, motivated, enthusiastic, intelligent, awesome coach. He and his staff, Gina Gannon, their families give so much and so much sacrifice to this organization. We are so appreciative of what he put into this organization.
"He made us better. But I think as you all know, this is a league about wins and losses. The wins and losses speak for themselves, especially this year. We just felt like we were going in the wrong direction and we needed to change course."
Gannon leaves Arizona with a 15-36 record, having failed to lead the Cardinals to a finish any higher than third place in the NFC West, which came in 2024 after an 8-9 showing.
Sunday's loss to the Rams was their fourth loss since December by double digits and in which they allowed at least 37 points. That streak bucked a trend from earlier in the year when they lost seven games by four or fewer points -- the most such setbacks in any season in club chronicle -- and eight overall by one possession. In Week 13, a close 20-17 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fittingly eliminated Gannon and the Cards from postseason contention.
Outside of the losing streak to end the season, the low point likely came in a 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 5. Arizona was leading, 21-6, in the fourth quarter before a string of calamitous events saw the Cardinals lose to the previously winless Titans. Amid the chaos, running back Emari Demercado dropped the ball before he had crossed the goal line. After the play, an irate Gannon confronted the running back, screamed in his face and then swiped his arm, appearing to contact Demercado. Gannon apologized for his actions and was fined $100,000 by the team.
The Cardinals are now set for another rebuild as Gannon's successor will be the fourth full-time head coach since Bruce Arians, the last Arizona head coach to lead the club to a playoff win, which came with an NFC Championship Game berth in 2015.
Along with uncertainty on the sidelines, there is an unknown under center.
Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray played only five games due to a Week 5 foot injury. He was underwhelming this year and veteran backup Jacoby Brissett lifted the offense when he took over. It wasn't enough to save the Cardinals' season or Gannon's job, though.
"I think when you come off a season like we have, I'd say all options are on the table," Ossenfort said Monday regarding Murray's future. "Whether it's quarterback or any other position, all options are on the table and we're gonna investigate all those to improve the team. And with every roster decision, like we always have, we're going to do what's in the best interest of the team."
Gannon's tenure in Arizona began somewhat poorly when he was hired after helping the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl as their defensive coordinator.
The Cardinals and Eagles reached a settlement regarding tampering over his hiring that later resulted in the swap of draft picks.
Despite losing records in each of his first two seasons, Gannon seemed to be in good standing as the team continued to add talent to a roster rather barren around him.
However, as is the case for any coach, expectations rose in Year 3 and Arizona did not meet them, regressing from an 8-9 squad last season that seemed to be trending up to just the third Cardinals team since the turn of the century to cap out at three wins.
Now, the Cardinals will have a club that looks much different in 2026 with a new head coach and possibly a new quarterback.
