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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In what could be his final press conference as the Arizona Cardinals head coach, Jonathan Gannon was asked whether he expects significant changes this offseason. His answer briefly froze the room of assembled reporters.
“Yeah, I do,” Gannon said. “With me first.”
Wait. What?
“I have to grow and do a better job of coaching this football team,” Gannon replied. “That's evident.”
So Gannon, as it turns out, was not announcing a shocking resignation right there, at the podium.
Quite the opposite. Instead, Gannon maintained his assurance in his own job security. When asked whether he’s heard from owner Michael Bidwill on that front, Gannon said only, “Nothing’s changed.”
“You guys know how I feel,” Gannon added, referring to his comments earlier in the week, when he repeatedly said that he expects to retain his job.
Gannon and Bidwill certainly appeared to have a positive relationship prior to the Cardinals’ 37-20 season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Rams. During warmups, the pair met at midfield for a hug and a brief conversation that appeared convivial.
Still, Gannon’s postgame comments amounted to his most straightforward recognition of the Cardinals’ failures.
“You get a chance to now step back,” Gannon said. “You're not in game mode. And change has to come. There's no doubt. Adversity forces growth and change.”
If Gannon remains in his role, that change could extend to his coordinators, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis. When asked whether he plans to retain those two coaches, Gannon declined to comment.
“I'm not getting into that,” Gannon said.
Likewise, general manager Monti Ossenfort declined to speak with The Arizona Republic as he departed the stadium. Ossenfort has not addressed reporters since July.
So, that was the postgame messaging.
Gannon acknowledged the need for change, but did not specify what that might mean. He remained confident in his own job security, although he will not be the one who makes that decision. And the two men responsible for the organization's future, Bidwill and Ossenfort, were not available to reporters.
As for the factors that play into the Cardinals’ decision, it will largely be a consideration of performance vs. health.
The Cardinals’ performance was horrendous. Despite beginning the year with playoff aspirations, they finished 3-14, tied for the worst record in the NFL. They lost their final nine games by an average margin of 15.8 points.
But they were also injured to an extent rarely seen in NFL history. No team this season missed more games due to injury or saw more players put on injured reserve. At certain positions — offensive line, running back, linebacker and cornerback — they played out the season with more third-stringers than starters.
In the locker room, players acknowledged the looming uncertainty.
“A little bit of limbo,” receiver Michael Wilson said. “I try not to get too caught up in that because all of that is out of my control and it's way above my head. … Regardless of what happens with (the coaches) and that situation, I'll forever be appreciative for how those guys helped me develop, how they believed in me. We'll see what happens.”
The Cardinals’ decision will likely come down at some point on Monday, Jan. 5. Gannon has a press conference scheduled for 2 p.m. MST, although that does not necessarily indicate anything one way or another.
Both Steve Wilks and Kliff Kingsbury had press conferences scheduled for the day after their season finales, only to be fired before those sessions could take place.
But that 2 p.m. time slot is likely a deadline. If Gannon takes the podium, he will almost certainly return as head coach in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jonathan Gannon promises major changes for Arizona Cardinals
Continue reading...
“Yeah, I do,” Gannon said. “With me first.”
Wait. What?
“I have to grow and do a better job of coaching this football team,” Gannon replied. “That's evident.”
So Gannon, as it turns out, was not announcing a shocking resignation right there, at the podium.
Quite the opposite. Instead, Gannon maintained his assurance in his own job security. When asked whether he’s heard from owner Michael Bidwill on that front, Gannon said only, “Nothing’s changed.”
“You guys know how I feel,” Gannon added, referring to his comments earlier in the week, when he repeatedly said that he expects to retain his job.
Gannon and Bidwill certainly appeared to have a positive relationship prior to the Cardinals’ 37-20 season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Rams. During warmups, the pair met at midfield for a hug and a brief conversation that appeared convivial.
Still, Gannon’s postgame comments amounted to his most straightforward recognition of the Cardinals’ failures.
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“You get a chance to now step back,” Gannon said. “You're not in game mode. And change has to come. There's no doubt. Adversity forces growth and change.”
If Gannon remains in his role, that change could extend to his coordinators, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis. When asked whether he plans to retain those two coaches, Gannon declined to comment.
“I'm not getting into that,” Gannon said.
Likewise, general manager Monti Ossenfort declined to speak with The Arizona Republic as he departed the stadium. Ossenfort has not addressed reporters since July.
So, that was the postgame messaging.
Gannon acknowledged the need for change, but did not specify what that might mean. He remained confident in his own job security, although he will not be the one who makes that decision. And the two men responsible for the organization's future, Bidwill and Ossenfort, were not available to reporters.
As for the factors that play into the Cardinals’ decision, it will largely be a consideration of performance vs. health.
The Cardinals’ performance was horrendous. Despite beginning the year with playoff aspirations, they finished 3-14, tied for the worst record in the NFL. They lost their final nine games by an average margin of 15.8 points.
But they were also injured to an extent rarely seen in NFL history. No team this season missed more games due to injury or saw more players put on injured reserve. At certain positions — offensive line, running back, linebacker and cornerback — they played out the season with more third-stringers than starters.
In the locker room, players acknowledged the looming uncertainty.
“A little bit of limbo,” receiver Michael Wilson said. “I try not to get too caught up in that because all of that is out of my control and it's way above my head. … Regardless of what happens with (the coaches) and that situation, I'll forever be appreciative for how those guys helped me develop, how they believed in me. We'll see what happens.”
The Cardinals’ decision will likely come down at some point on Monday, Jan. 5. Gannon has a press conference scheduled for 2 p.m. MST, although that does not necessarily indicate anything one way or another.
Both Steve Wilks and Kliff Kingsbury had press conferences scheduled for the day after their season finales, only to be fired before those sessions could take place.
But that 2 p.m. time slot is likely a deadline. If Gannon takes the podium, he will almost certainly return as head coach in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jonathan Gannon promises major changes for Arizona Cardinals
Continue reading...
