Black Monday has arrived, and as teams lick their wounds from a disappointing 2025 campaign, change is inevitable.
The Arizona Cardinals added to the coaching turnover, firing head coach Jonathan Gannon after three seasons and a 3-14 record in 2025.
Arizona Cardinals Fire Jonathan Gannon After Injury-Riddled 2025
Arizona making noise this early in the offseason came as a bit of a surprise. Gannon’s seat was warm after three seasons without a playoff berth, but injuries, inconsistent quarterback play, and heavy roster turnover each could have earned him another chance.
Instead, the Cardinals will hit the reset button, pivoting from Gannon and potentially quarterback Kyler Murray, who has struggled since bringing Arizona to the playoffs in 2021.
Despite the pink slip, Gannon’s conference-winning experience as a defensive play-caller could make him a prime coordinator candidate in the coming weeks.
The #AZCardinals are firing coach Jonathan Gannon, sources say.
Endless losses to finish an injury-riddled season spelled the end of Gannon, who should be a top-tier defensive coordinator candidate now. pic.twitter.com/HSI29PENNs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2026
“The [Cardinals] are firing coach Jonathan Gannon, sources say,” Ian Rapoport posted.
“Endless losses to finish an injury-riddled season spelled the end of Gannon, who should be a top-tier defensive coordinator candidate now.”
Rapoport isn’t alone in his optimism for Gannon’s next chapter, even if the Arizona faithful seem to be relieved.
One fan took to social media to celebrate the things going Arizona’s way (at least for those looking for a change).
– Suns beat OKC
– Devin Booker game-winner
– ASU lands Omarion Miller
– Cards get No. 3 pick
– Gannon firedAll in 24 hours 🥹 pic.twitter.com/MQYGHmdcjb
— Erik Ruby (@ErikRuby) January 5, 2026
“Suns beat OKC, Devin Booker game-winner, ASU lands Omarion Miller, Cards get No. 3 pick, Gannon fired,” they posted with a meme of LeBron James’ famous “Smiling through it all” picture.
Others were willing to acknowledge that Arizona’s situation wasn’t black and white. The Cardinals hadn’t made the playoffs under Gannon’s tutelage, but few coaches would have made the dance with as many injuries as Arizona in 2025.
Losing Murray, James Conner, and a host of offensive linemen put Gannon behind the eight ball. First-round rookie Walter Nolen III, playing just six games, added to the team’s lack of top-end talent.
“The numbers were stacked against Gannon but the Cardinals’ roster this season was awful — and that’s out of his control,” ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss wrote. Players consistently told me that the culture he created was real and different from what’s been in Arizona with past regimes.”
MORE: Jonathan Gannon Contract and Salary: A Look at How Much the Cardinals HC Is Earning in 2026
Perhaps a significant part of the calculation was the Cardinals’ defense. Gannon presides over that side of the ball, which finished 29th by PFSN’s NFL Defense Impact Metric. The offense was in disarray after Murray’s season-ending injury (and rumors of a soft benching), but owner Michael Bidwill may have lost confidence in Gannon’s defense compensating for offensive turbulence.
That didn’t stop Bidwill from reaching out to Gannon before Week 18’s finale.
FOOTBALL IS A COLD BUSINESS:
Arizona #Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill sought out and made sure to hug head coach Jonathan Gannon before yesterday’s game.
Less than 24 hours later, Bidwill fired Gannon as the team’s coach.
Very cold world right now…
pic.twitter.com/vFAcBMI4kV— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 5, 2026
“FOOTBALL IS A COLD BUSINESS,” MLFootball posted. “Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill sought out and made sure to hug head coach Jonathan Gannon before yesterday’s game. Less than 24 hours later, Bidwill fired Gannon as the team’s coach. Very cold world right now…
Gannon had skeptics since he was hired, fresh off a Super Bowl defeat in which his Philadelphia Eagles surrendered 38 points and 340 yards. After winning four games in his first season, Gannon’s regime never got very far off the ground, topping out at eight wins and a third-place finish in 2024.
Nevertheless, the football world remains sympathetic to Gannon’s cause. Of the four first-round picks from his tenure, only offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. has emerged as a star. Arizona has been undermanned in a competitive NFC West, and while Gannon cannot be divorced from those roster decisions, a 3-14 record will always make change possible.
BREAKING NEWS: The Arizona Cardinals have fired head coach Jonathan Gannon #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/96WpOHvNby
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 5, 2026
“What we do know is that Jonathan Gannon has been fired today,” Pat McAfee said. “That means his entire coaching staff has been fired, all their families have been fired. They’re gonna have to pick up and find anew; that is the life of a coach.”
“Losing nine straight is certainly something that would chatter a conversation about being fired. But there’s some other teams that lose seven, eight straight and that doesn’t happen.
Gannon endured quarterback controversies, brutal injury luck, and the misfortune of having perennial Super Bowl contenders in his division. He’ll likely have the opportunity to rebuild his reputation and head coaching candidacy with a high-profile defensive gig in 2026.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
