Key Highlights
- Azcardinals reportedly fire Jonathan Gannon following third straight losing season.
- Gannon was hired in 2023 and had a 15-36 record over three years with the team.
- The Cardinals went just 3-14 this season, their worst record since 1987.
- Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort will take charge as the team searches for a new coach.
New Era Begins: Arizona Cardinals Fire Jonathan Gannon Amid Third Straight Losing Season
AZCARDINALS have reportedly fired head coach Jonathan Gannon following his third consecutive losing season, marking an end to the short tenure of the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator. Gannon’s firing comes just days after a 3-14 record in the 2025 NFL season.
Why Gannon’s Tenure Came to an End
Gannon was hired by the Cardinals with high hopes, tasked with revamping their defense and leading them back to contention. However, his efforts did not yield the expected results. Over three seasons, the team compiled a 15-36 record under Gannon’s leadership, making this the worst period in the franchise’s history since 1987.
The Cardinals’ defensive performance was notably poor in recent years.
This season, they ranked 26th in EPA per play allowed and 27th in success rate allowed, a clear indication of their struggle to contain opposing offenses. Despite having 17 out of Gannon’s 28 draft picks on the defense, the unit failed to improve significantly.
Pressure Mounts: Controversies and Losses
The Cardinals suffered significant losses in key games this season, including a 27-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys followed by back-to-back blowout defeats against division rivals. The team’s collapse culminated with losses to future playoff teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, and Houston Texans.
Additionally, Gannon faced pressure from the start of the season when he criticized running back Emari Demercado for a goal-line drop during a crucial game. This incident foreshadowed the challenges Gannon would face as head coach. He later apologized and was fined $100,000 by the league.
Cardinals’ Future Uncertain
In mid-November, Gannon acknowledged being on the hot seat, stating that his position in the team’s hierarchy was not a controllable factor. General manager Monti Ossenfort and team owner Michael Bidwell will now lead the search for a new head coach.
While Gannon is out, Ossenfort remains at the helm of the franchise. Notable players drafted by Ossenfort include Marvin Harrison Jr. and Paris Johnson, who are expected to form part of the Cardinals’ core moving forward.
The team’s focus now shifts to evaluating their next head coach, as they look to turn around a season that has seen them struggle on multiple fronts.
The firing of Gannon marks the latest in a series of coaching changes for the Arizona Cardinals, who have burned through six head coaches over the past two decades. Only one coach—Ken Whisenhunt—has managed to last longer than four seasons with the team since moving to Phoenix in 1988.
As the Cardinals move forward, the organization will be under pressure to select a new leader who can restore the team’s competitiveness and address the defensive issues that have plagued them for years. The search is on, but it remains to be seen what changes lie ahead for this once-promising franchise.
