Eagles Rumors: DC Jonathan Gannon to Interview for Cardinals HC Job After Super Bowl

The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly expected to interview Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon for their vacant head coaching position after the Super Bowl.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the interview will take place Monday. Gannon is said to have "emerged as a key candidate" in the Cards' head coaching search.

On Sunday, Gannon will help lead the Eagles into Super Bowl LVII against NFL MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Gannon, 40, is in the midst of his second year as the Eagles' DC, having followed Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni from the Indianapolis Colts to Philly.

During his time in the NFL, Gannon has served in a variety of different roles with the Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Colts and Eagles.

Gannon began as a defensive quality control coach before getting into scouting. He was then the Vikings' assistant defensive backs coach from 2014 to 2017. From 2018 to 2020, he was the Colts' defensive backs coach, leading to his first defensive coordinator opportunity in Philadelphia.

The Eagles ranked 10th in total defense and 18th in scoring defense in Gannon's first season at the helm, but they took a big leap forward in 2022.

With Gannon calling the defensive plays, the Eagles ranked second in total defense and eighth in scoring defense, and they also led the NFL in sacks with 70, which was 15 more than the second-place Chiefs.

As a result, the Eagles went 14-3 during the regular season, secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC and rolled their way through the playoffs to the Super Bowl.

If the Cardinals go with Gannon as their new head coach, it would represent a change in philosophy since the offensive-minded Kliff Kingsbury was their head coach for four seasons from 2019 to 2022.

Arizona reached the playoffs just one time under Kingsbury, and it posted one of the worst records in the NFL this season at 4-13.

After finishing just outside the top 10 in both total defense and scoring defense in 2020 and 2021, the Cardinals bottomed out on that side of the ball this season, ranking 21st in total defense and 31st in scoring defense.

Gannon would perhaps help significantly on that side of the ball, but the Cardinals have some offensive issues as well, with quarterback Kyler Murray coming off a torn ACL suffered in 14.