The Arizona Cardinals’ 2025 season hit another low point on Sunday, falling 45-17 to the Los Angeles Rams in a game that felt all too familiar. It marked the team’s fifth straight loss and their tenth defeat in the last eleven games.
With the record now at 3-10, the Cardinals are locked into last place in the NFC West and officially eliminated from postseason contention. And with the season spiraling, the question hanging over this franchise is becoming harder to ignore: Is it time to move on from head coach Jonathan Gannon?
To answer that, we have to take a broader look-not just at this season, but at the full picture of Gannon’s tenure in Arizona.
The Record: A Hard Truth
Let’s start with the numbers. After Sunday’s loss, Gannon’s record as Cardinals head coach dropped to 15-32.
That’s not the whole story, but it’s the kind of stat that jumps off the page. In the NFL, results matter.
And three years in, the results haven’t been there.
But to be fair, Gannon didn’t walk into a dream job. When he took over in 2023, the Cardinals were coming off a 4-13 season and a last-place finish in the division. The NFC West wasn’t exactly a soft landing spot either-San Francisco and Seattle were playoff teams in 2022, and while the Rams had a down year at 5-12, they were still just a season removed from winning the Super Bowl.
So yes, Gannon inherited a tough situation. And in his first season, the team matched its previous record at 4-13.
Given the context, that wasn’t a major red flag. But what came next is where things get complicated.
A Glimmer of Progress-Then a Collapse
In 2024, the Cardinals showed real signs of life. They improved to 8-9, a four-win jump from the year before.
That kind of leap usually buys a coach some goodwill. Even more encouraging, Arizona started the 2025 season 2-0.
For a moment, it looked like the rebuild was turning a corner.
But that momentum vanished quickly. Since that 2-0 start, the Cardinals have gone 1-10. In a season where fans expected continued growth, the team has instead regressed-and done so in a division that’s only gotten tougher.
The Rams and Seahawks are both sitting at 10-3. The 49ers, despite a step back from their 2023 NFC Championship run, are still 9-4 and in the thick of the playoff hunt.
All three NFC West rivals are legitimate postseason threats. Meanwhile, Arizona is once again looking up from the bottom.
Division Strength Is No Excuse
It’s tempting to give Gannon a pass because of the division’s strength, but that argument doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The Seahawks moved on from both Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll in recent years and still managed to reload quickly.
The Rams and 49ers each had down years-2022 for L.A., 2024 for San Francisco-but bounced back with strong seasons. Those teams faced adversity and responded.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, seem stuck in a holding pattern-or worse, sliding backward.
The reality is that while Gannon may have inherited a challenging situation, the state of the franchise hasn’t meaningfully improved under his leadership.
The Kyler Murray Conundrum
Then there’s the quarterback situation, which looms large in any conversation about the Cardinals’ future. Kyler Murray hasn’t played since Week 5 and has already been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Injuries have been a recurring issue throughout his career, dating back to his ACL tear late in 2022. That injury kept him out until November of the following season, which helps explain some of the struggles in 2023.
But here’s the problem: even when he’s been healthy, Murray hasn’t shown the kind of growth you want to see from a franchise quarterback-especially under a head coach who was supposed to help stabilize things.
Let’s look at the numbers:
- Murray from 2019 to 2022: 66.8% completion, 92.5 passer rating, 57.7 QBR. Averaged 4,130 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and added 657 rushing yards with 7 rushing touchdowns per 17 games.
- Murray from 2023 to 2025: 67.8% completion, 91.6 passer rating, 48.0 QBR.
Per 17 games: 3,747 yards, 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 560 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns.
The numbers don’t lie. Murray’s production has dipped across the board.
The completion percentage is slightly up, but the QBR is down significantly, and the overall impact just isn’t there. And while Gannon can’t be blamed for every injury or every misstep, it’s clear that Murray hasn’t taken the next step under his watch.
What Comes Next?
There’s already buzz that the Cardinals could move on from Murray at season’s end. If that happens, it signals a full reset is on the table. And if you’re bringing in a new quarterback, it’s fair to ask: is Gannon the right coach to develop that next face of the franchise?
The answer, based on what we’ve seen, is leaning heavily toward no.
To be clear, firing Gannon before the season ends wouldn’t accomplish much. The team is out of the playoff picture, and there’s no interim miracle waiting in the wings. But once the season wraps, it might be time for a clean break-not just at quarterback, but on the sideline as well.
Even if the Cardinals opt to keep Murray for one more year, the lack of progress-both from him and the team overall-makes it hard to justify giving Gannon a fourth season. The NFL is a results-driven league, and three years in, the results just haven’t been good enough.
Arizona’s next move will define the direction of the franchise for years to come. Whether that includes Gannon remains to be seen, but right now, the writing on the wall is getting harder to ignore.