Cardinals Could Make Surprise Decision on Jonathan Gannon

By Jordan SiglerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

The Arizona Cardinals are 3-7 in Week 12 before getting set to host the 6-4 Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

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Following close (four-point) losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers, it looked like Arizona might be able to turn the corner when it beat the Dallas Cowboys 27-17 on "Monday Night Football" on Nov. 3.

However, the Cardinals have been blown out by NFC West rivals the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in back-to-back weeks.

NFL head coach Jonathan Gannon of the Arizona Cardinals

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There have been questions surrounding third-year head coach Jonathan Gannon this season, especially following his actions in the Cardinals' humiliating loss to the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 5. He's 15-29 since taking over in 2023.

Per Jonathan Jones of CBS, a "well-placed" NFL source suggested Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill might make a surprising choice to keep Gannon despite a third consecutive losing season.

Via CBS Sports:

"I don't think (Bidwill) would fire someone who is doing a good job," said one well-placed league source. "The coach agreed to a five-year deal and I don't foresee the owner paying two years of salary unless it's really bad."

Jones noted the Cardinals still have to pay former general manager Steve Keim and former head coach Kliff Kingsbury (through 2027). If Bidwill fired Gannon, Arizona would have to pay three head coaches for 2026 and 2027.

The best bet might be to hope Gannon can turn the ship around in 2026.

Earlier this week, Gannon suggested that he's not worried about his status with Arizona for 2026 because he can't control what Bidwill chooses to do.

"Not controllable for me," Gannon said, via the Arizona Republic. "I didn't hire myself, I'm not going to fire myself. So seriously, I know it comes up. That's the business we're in. If you don't want to be in that business, we laugh, we joke, go work somewhere else.

"I'm going to control the controllables for myself. Come to work and do the best job that I can and try to get our team in a position to win a game."

What Gannon can do is make it harder for Bidwill to fire him by winning games against potential playoff teams. The Cardinals play the Jaguars on Sunday before playing the 6-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-2 Los Angeles Rams and 6-5 Houston Texans.

For more on the Cardinals and the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.

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