Jonathan Gannon Fired by Cardinals, Who Are Top HC Targets and What It Means for Kyler

The Jonathan Gannon era is over.

The Arizona Cardinals fired the head coach on Monday after the team posted a losing record and failed to reach the playoffs for a fourth straight season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported the news.

Gannon was at the helm for three of those, going 15-36 overall as the head coach.

While the team is moving on from Gannon, the team will keep general manager Monti Ossenfort, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero:

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady are among the top head coacing candidates in this current cycle.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is also expected to generate buzz around the league this offseason, but a reunion in the desert seems unlikely.

Gannon took over a team that went 4-13 in 2022 and posted the same exact record in his first season, though the Cardinals took a jump in 2024, going 8-9. There was optimism heading into the 2025 campaign that the team could take another step and reach the postseason, built around players like Trey McBride, Budda Baker, Kyler Murray, first-round pick Walter Nolen III, Marvin Harrison Jr. and offseason addition Josh Sweat.

But Murray played just five games, hampered by a foot injury, and his future with the organization is in serious question. And while players like McBride, Baker and Sweat delivered, the Cardinals were unable to take the next step under Gannon.

Part of the reason was the team was dreadful in close games. The margins for success in the NFL are small, and the team's outlook might be entirely different had they managed to have better success in the tight contests.

But they didn't, and the axe ultimately falls on Gannon in that regard.

Arizona's vacancy is an interesting one, with major question marks at the quarterback position going forward. There is talent on the roster, but without a clear plan at the most important position, top potential candidates may view other openings as more viable.

As for Gannon, it wouldn't be surprising to see him land with a team in need of a defensive coordinator. He held that role with the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons (2021-22) before taking the Arizona gig.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear how this decision will impact Murray's future. Gannon's exit could allow Murray to get a fresh start under a new head coach, but it's also possible that the organization will allow the new coach to choose a new quarterback to move forward with.