ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was first to report that the Cardinals have fired head coach Jonathan Gannon.
In Gannon’s third season with Arizona, the team finished with nine consecutive losses and lost 14 of its final 15 games. Gannon dropped to 15-36 in his time in Arizona.
Shortly afterward, the team confirmed it parted ways with Gannon.
“We’re so appreciative of what he put into this organization. He made us better, but I think, as you all know, this is a league about wins and losses. The wins and losses speak for themselves, especially this year. We just felt like we were going in the wrong direction,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said at a Monday news conference with general manager Monti Ossenfort by his side.
The Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs on Dec. 1, their earliest exit since moving to Arizona.
The Red Birds finished 3-14, the worst record in the team’s history. This is also the third time the Cardinals have finished with three wins in a season.
Along with a new coaching search and uncertainty around Kyler Murray, the Cardinals have the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is held from April 23 to 25.
Regular-season finale loss
The coaching change follows a fairly meaningless regular-season finale in which the Cardinals put up an early fight until a dynamic late surge by the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams.
The Cardinals were in the lead late in the third quarter on Sunday. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 259 yards and four touchdown passes, as the Rams rallied to secure the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs with a 37-20 victory.
After the game, Gannon agreed that the Cards are likely to make significant changes but didn’t speculate on his own future.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) fumbles the ball while being sacked by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Josaiah Stewart (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)(Mark J. Terrill | AP)
Jacoby Brissett passed for 243 yards and hit Michael Wilson with a 43-yard TD pass in the second half for Arizona, which put a fright into the Rams.
Trey McBride made seven catches to extend his NFL single-season record for a tight end to 126 receptions for the Cardinals, who lost 14 games in a season for the first time in the history of a franchise that started in Chicago in 1920. Wilson finished with 99 yards receiving to top 1,000 in a season for the first time.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) hurdles over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)(Mark J. Terrill | AP)
Brissett started the Cardinals’ final 12 games after a foot injury sidelined Kyler Murray. The former No. 1 pick’s future is also up in the air in Arizona.
“Obviously came up a little short, but I’m pretty sure (the Rams) probably came in here and thought they were gonna roll us and get ready for the playoffs,” Brissett said. “And no, we gave them a run for their money. Guys came out and battled.”
Plagued by injuries, mistakes
The Cardinals had an 8-9 record last year in Gannon’s second season and the franchise appeared on the upswing. Two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray was in his prime, and Ossenfort spent much of the offseason upgrading the defense, adding veteran pieces like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and fan-favorite Calais Campbell.
But nothing has gone as planned.
Arizona actually won its first two games of the season, though that would prove to be the high point. The Cardinals lost the next five games by a combined 13 points, including three straight on last-second field goals.
During that stretch, injuries started piling up. Murray hurt his foot in a Week 5 loss to the Titans and hasn’t played since, calling into question whether he’ll be the team’s quarterback in 2026 despite a $230.5 million, five-year contract that could run through 2028.
Starting running back James Conner has missed most of the season with a foot injury while receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — who was the No. 4 overall pick in 2024 — struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
There were also some embarrassing moments that added to the tension. Running back Emari Demercado dropped the football just short of a touchdown while celebrating too early against the Titans, which started a stunning collapse that saw a 21-9 lead turn into a 22-21 defeat.
Gannon was caught on camera angrily confronting Demercado, appearing to bump the running back as he swiped his arm downward. The Cardinals fined the coach $100,000 for his actions.
Arizona was also called for a franchise-record 17 penalties in a 41-22 loss to the 49ers in Week 11. The Cardinals were 0-6 against NFC West opponents this season, losing the last four by a combined 88 points.
