A furious coach, a costly mistake, and a sideline strike caught on camera. The fallout from Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon’s explosive interaction with running back Emari Demercado is just beginning, and one former NFL player is leading the charge against him.
Why Did Emmanuel Acho Call Jonathan Gannon’s Actions ‘Childish’?
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho strongly criticized Gannon after his heated reaction toward Demercado during Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. The outburst, which showed Gannon striking Demercado on the sideline following a critical fumble, has drawn heavy backlash.
Shady and Acho erupt over Cardinals head coach, Jonathan Gannon, punching his player on the sideline! 😳
Was the coach in the wrong? pic.twitter.com/8EYU4278i8
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) October 7, 2025
Speaking on his show, Acho didn’t hold back.
“It’s not that the coach shouldn’t be mad. Learn how to deal with your frustrations,” he said. “The difference between adults and children are children don’t know how to handle and control their emotions. That’s the primary differentiating factor. Children can’t control their emotions. When they get upset, they cry. When they want a toy, they scream.”
He called out Gannon directly, adding, “This is Jonathan Gannon behaving like a child. Boom. That’s what that is. And that’s why his other coach had to draw him away. Yeah. Jonathan Gannon, you’re 14 and 25. With all due respect, you suck at your job too.”
Acho concluded that while it was fair for Gannon to be angry over the fumble, “ain’t nobody coming up slapping you in the chest.”
What Caused the Sideline Confrontation?
The controversy centers around Demercado’s costly mistake in the fourth quarter. The running back appeared to prematurely celebrate what looked like a 72-yard touchdown, casually flipping the ball before crossing the goal line.
However, the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback, turning over possession to the Titans. Following the turnover, the Cardinals, who had held a 15-point lead, collapsed late and lost 22-21, marking their third straight defeat and dropping their record to 2-3.
This single play highlights a larger trend of offensive struggles for Arizona this season. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact (OFFi) metric, the Cardinals hold a 68.2 offensive impact score, which earns them a D+ grade and ranks them 27th overall through five games. Under Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, the team’s offense has failed to find a rhythm, a problem reflected in their record and ongoing issues with consistency.
Following the incident, Gannon addressed reporters in Arizona on Monday, admitting he regretted his actions and had apologized to Demercado and the team.
“I didn’t see the video, but yeah, I actually woke up this morning and didn’t feel great about it, honestly,” Gannon said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I just told him I kind of let the moment of what happened get the better of me then.”
While there were initially reports that the NFLPA would investigate Gannon, a spokesperson for the union told PFSN that they won’t be looking into this matter.