TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has been fired after a frustrating third season. The third season started with high expectations, but quickly collapsed due to injuries, embarrassing gaffes and a string of losses that became increasingly uncompetitive.
The Cardinals announced the news Monday. General manager Monty Ossenfort will be retained.
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The final insult came on Sunday, when the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cardinals 37-20 after scoring the final 21 points. This was the team’s ninth consecutive loss and their 14th loss in 15 games.
Now, a new coaching staff will have a chance to rebuild a team that will have the third overall pick in April but has made the playoffs just once since 2016.
Gannon, 43, finished his tenure with a 15-36 record, including 3-14 this season. His firing wasn’t necessarily surprising, but the speed of his downfall was still shocking.
In Gannon’s second season last year, the Cardinals achieved an 8-9 record and the team seemed to be on the rise. Two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray is in his prime, and Ossenfort spent much of the offseason upgrading the defense, adding veterans like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.
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But nothing goes according to plan.
Arizona actually won its first two games of the season, though that would prove to be the high point. The Cardinals lost their next five games by a combined 13 points, including three straight losses on late field goals.
During that time, injuries began to pile up. Murray suffered a foot injury in a Week 5 loss to the Titans and has not played since, raising questions about whether he will be the team’s quarterback in 2026 even though he signed a five-year contract worth $230.5 million that could run through 2028.
Starting running back James Conner missed most of the season with a foot injury, while receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (the fourth overall pick in 2024) has struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
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There are also a few awkward moments that heighten the tension. Running back Emari Demercado lost the ball before a touchdown in a premature celebration against the Titans, who began a shocking collapse that turned a 21-9 lead into a 22-21 defeat.
Cameras captured Gannon angrily confronting DeMercado, appearing to hit the running back as he swung his arms downward. The Cardinals fined the coach $100,000 for his conduct.
Arizona was also called a franchise-record 17 penalties in a 41-22 loss to the 49ers in Week 11. The Cardinals are 0-6 against NFC West opponents this season, losing their final four games by a combined 88 points.
Gannon was hired in 2023 after two seasons as defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, who reached the Super Bowl in his final year but lost to the Chiefs.
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