The Arizona Cardinals entered the 2025 season hoping to build momentum under second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon.
But since they started 2-0, the situation in Arizona has become a rocky one.
With a crushing loss to the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday and a sideline altercation between Gannon and running back Emari Demercado, questions about the team’s direction are surfacing.
Those questions grew louder when The Athletic’s Mike Jones placed Gannon on his list of NFL coaches on the hot seat.
Gannon’s position was labelled as “uncomfortable.”
It is a surprising spot to put a coach who is still fairly early in his tenure with his team, but the NFL waits for no one.
In a league that rarely waits for patience to pay off, time may already be running short for the Cardinals’ head coach to prove himself to be the coach of the future.
Gannon Lands “Uncomfortable” Label
Cardinals’ HC Jonathan Gannon landed in Jones’ “uncomfortable” category in his hot seat column.
Also joining Gannon in the category are Cincinnati Bengals HC Zac Taylor and Baltimore Ravens HC Jon Harbaugh.
While it may be a surprising place to put a coach who has his team sitting at 2-3, it may not be surprising to see the writing on the wall for a coach who has lost three straight games.
“After a 4-13 rookie season, Gannon nudged the Cardinals towards improvement and an 8-9 record last year. But this year, he needs to do more contending for the division and a postseason bid,” wrote Jones.
“The Cardinals seemed to show signs of growth initially, but that collapse against the Titans will sting for a bit. Gannon drew scrutiny and a fine for striking Emari Demercado after he dropped the ball before crossing the whole line, but can really help his case with a strong rebound this week and by guiding the Cardinals back into the playoff hunt the rest of the way.”
Gannon’s altercation with Demercado certainly did not help his case, but what the Cardinals’ leader does next will be telling.
Cardinals’ Must Regroup To Save Season
The Cardinals’ crushing loss to the Titans last Sunday was a significant gut punch.
It wasn’t just a loss; it was a missed opportunity to show competitive progress.
After some out-of-character mistakes and some bizarre turnovers, the Cardinals blew an opportunity to keep pace in the NFC West.
For Gannon, that kind of performance adds pressure, especially when his name starts to appear on hot-seat lists.
The Cardinals have already been dealing with the injury bug on offense this season.
With running back James Conner out for the season, they can’t afford to lose any more players.
Additionally, with Kyler Murray appearing on the injury report for this week, the uncertainty continues.
If Murray can’t go, the Cardinals will need to rely on a disciplined, creative approach to beat the surging Indianapolis Colts.
That responsibility falls squarely on Gannon and his staff.
Moreover, the road ahead does not get any easier.
The Cardinals face one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL, and time is ticking for the birds of the desert to regain their focus.
While it is easy to write off a coach who has lost three straight games and has had a sideline altercation with a player, Gannon’s situation remains complex.
He took over a roster searching for an identity, and there is still room for wins with the Cardinals sitting at a manageable 2-3 record.
But the NFL measures success by results, not fairness.
The coming weeks will define Gannon’s tenure and will determine if the Cardinals can regroup or continue to falter under the pressure.
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