GLENDALE, Ariz., Dec. 31 – In the NFL, there is often a stark disconnect between the standings and the podium. Standing amidst the wreckage of a 3-13 season, fresh off a demoralizing 37-14 drubbing by Cincinnati, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was asked the question that haunts every struggling sideline boss in December: Is your job safe?
His answer was brief, perhaps surprisingly so. “I feel good,” Gannon said.
While Gannon projects confidence, the reality on the field has been a slow-motion car crash. The Cardinals, who teased competence with a 2-0 start to the 2025 campaign, have since lost 13 of their last 14 games. What began as a season of “close calls” has devolved into a series of non-competitive blowouts.
The statistics paint a grim picture of regression. During their current eight-game losing streak, Arizona hasn’t just been beaten; they have been dismantled, outscored 280-155. Three of their last four defeats have been by margins of 20 points or more. Despite early-month reports from league insiders suggesting owner Michael Bidwill was inclined to give Gannon a fourth year, the sheer scale of the recent embarrassments has many wondering if the front office’s patience is thinning.
Gannon, however, insists his approach remains consistent. “I kind of do the same process as I’ve done the last two years,” he explained. “I try to take detailed notes, try to have a pulse of what’s going on… I do have to think about the future a little bit, obviously the seat that I’m in, but my focus is really on L.A.”
The context surrounding Gannon’s tenure is complex. Now sitting at a career record of 15-35, he has navigated a minefield of quarterback uncertainty and a defense ravaged by injuries. Yet, in the “what have you done for me lately” economy of the NFL, explanations often sound like excuses.
The danger for Gannon isn’t just the losses it’s the apathy that often follows. When a team stops competing late in the year, it forces ownership to evaluate not just the roster, but the culture. With the Cardinals seemingly spiraling, the Week 18 finale against the Los Angeles Rams is no longer just a schedule obligation; it is a final referendum on the head coach’s ability to motivate his locker room.
“No one’s happy. I’m not happy. Players aren’t happy. Through adversity, you’ve got to change. So, I got to change, and we got to change some things, but we’ll get to that.” – Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals Head Coach
This admission is crucial. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability where Gannon acknowledges that the status quo is untenable. He is effectively promising an evolution if he is given the time to oversee it.
Jonathan Gannon believes he will be on the sidelines in 2026, but belief alone doesn’t save jobs. The Cardinals have collapsed in spectacular fashion, and while Gannon pleads for patience and promises change, another lifeless performance against the Rams could force owner Michael Bidwill to make the one change Gannon fears most.
