Jonathan Gannon’s Future in Arizona: A Hot Seat Heating Up Fast
GLENDALE - With just a few weeks left in the season, the pressure is mounting in the desert - and it’s squarely on the shoulders of Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. Now in his third year at the helm, Gannon’s record sits at 3-11 this season and 15-33 overall. That’s not the kind of trajectory that inspires confidence, especially for a franchise still searching for stability after years of resets.
Expectations were higher heading into this season. There was cautious optimism around the building - a belief that, with a healthy roster and another year of system familiarity, the Cardinals could start to turn the corner. But injuries and inconsistency have taken their toll, and now Arizona finds itself staring down another double-digit loss season.
No Sales Pitch, Just Atlanta
When Gannon addressed the media on Monday, he was asked a pointed question: Does he feel the need to make a pitch to owner Michael Bidwill to keep his job? His answer was direct - there is no pitch.
That response can be read in a couple of ways. On the surface, it suggests Gannon believes in his process and doesn’t feel the need to campaign for his position.
But it also opens the door to a harsher interpretation - that he might not have much of a case to make. After three seasons, the results just haven’t been there.
Why Gannon Might Stay - And Why He Might Not
There are really only two scenarios where Gannon returns in 2026.
First, there’s the financial angle. Bidwill is still paying former head coach Kliff Kingsbury through 2027, and paying two head coaches at once - especially when one of them is no longer in the building - is a tough pill to swallow.
Historically, Bidwill has shown patience with his hires. Kingsbury got four years.
Bruce Arians got five. But both had at least one season with double-digit wins by Year 3.
Gannon, by contrast, is heading in the opposite direction.
The second path to Gannon staying involves a scapegoat - and that could mean a coordinator gets the axe. Early in the season, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing looked like the most vulnerable.
The offense sputtered out of the gate, and there were questions about scheme and play-calling. But in recent weeks, it’s the defense that’s fallen apart.
The Cardinals have given up 40 or more points in four of their last six games, putting defensive coordinator Nick Rallis squarely in the crosshairs.
If Bidwill opts for change without a full teardown, parting ways with a coordinator might be the move. That could give Gannon one more shot to right the ship - but it also raises the question of whether such a move would bring meaningful improvement.
Locker Room Loyalty
One thing Gannon does have going for him is the support of his players. Multiple members of the locker room have spoken up in recent weeks to back their head coach.
That kind of loyalty matters, especially in a season where morale could easily have cratered. It shows that, despite the losses, Gannon hasn’t lost the room.
Still, player support only goes so far. This is a results-driven league, and the Cardinals haven’t seen enough of them.
Since Bruce Arians left in 2017, Arizona has cycled through three head coaches. Arians, notably, was the last to deliver a playoff win.
Nearly a decade later, the franchise is mired in one of its worst seasons in memory.
A Familiar Crossroads
The Cardinals are once again at a familiar fork in the road - do they stay the course and hope for internal growth, or do they hit the reset button yet again? Gannon’s future may hinge not just on the final few games, but on how Bidwill weighs financial commitments, coaching continuity, and the potential impact of another overhaul.
Either way, the clock is ticking in Arizona. And for Jonathan Gannon, the heat is very much on.