The Arizona Cardinals have opened the 2025 NFL season with a surprising 2–1 record, defying expectations and even briefly igniting optimism among fans. But while the win-loss column shows progress, the truth beneath the surface tells a more complicated—and ultimately damning—story.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon, despite the early success, should still be shown the door at season’s end. The Cardinals need a leader who can elevate the team beyond flashes of competence into sustained competitiveness, and Gannon has consistently failed to prove he’s that guy. Not only that, but they’re about to enter a brutal part of their schedule where they may enter a slump.
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Arizona Cardinals Moving Off Of Jonathan Gannon
Yes, the Cardinals are 2–1. But anyone watching the games closely can see that the team’s wins have come in spite of Gannon, not because of him. The offense remains disjointed and overly conservative.
Game plans lack creativity, and situational play-calling often seems reactive rather than proactive. In both of Arizona’s wins, big plays and defensive turnovers were the key—not any kind of coherent, repeatable scheme.
Against inferior opponents, that’s enough. But as the schedule gets tougher, these flaws will be exposed. They always are.
Under Gannon, the Cardinals’ offense has stagnated. Despite having a healthy Kyler Murray, a vastly improved offensive line, and skill players like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride, Arizona still ranks near the bottom of the league in red zone efficiency and third-down conversion rate.
The lack of in-game adjustments has become a recurring problem—just like last season. For all the talent on the field, the team looks too often like it’s improvising without direction. That’s on the head coach.
The Locker Room Needs a Stronger Voice
Leadership matters, and Gannon’s style has worn thin. From preseason speeches to defensive locker room outbursts, Gannon has struggled to earn the full respect of a veteran NFL roster.
He’s a defensive coordinator trying to impersonate a head coach, and it shows. The Cardinals may tolerate his quirks when the team is winning, but the second a losing streak begins—and it will—the locker room could splinter quickly.
Last season’s second-half collapse after a promising midseason stretch is a clear warning sign.
This Isn’t a Rebuild Anymore—It’s a Team Ready to Compete
It’s one thing to give a coach time during a full rebuild. But Arizona is no longer in that phase.
They have one of the best young receivers in the NFL in Marvin Harrison Jr., a franchise quarterback, and a defense that is showing signs of real potential. With smart offseason moves, the Cardinals have quietly assembled a top-15 roster in terms of talent. What they need now is a top-15 coach to match.
Retaining Gannon into 2026 would be a signal that mediocrity is acceptable. It would waste the window of Murray’s prime, delay the growth of offensive stars like Harrison Jr., and ultimately cost Arizona a shot at becoming a playoff staple in the NFC. Why wait to fix a problem everyone can already see?
The Future Demands Bold Action
The Cardinals have seen what a real, innovative coach can do elsewhere. Look at the rise of teams like the Chargers under Jim Harbaugh or the Lions under Dan Campbell. These franchises committed to leadership that could galvanize young talent while modernizing schemes and building culture.
That’s what Arizona needs—not more of Gannon’s unproven philosophies.
A 2–1 start may buy Gannon time on the surface, but it should not buy him job security. Results matter, but how you get those results matters even more. If Arizona wants to avoid falling into another cycle of short-term bursts and long-term disappointment, they need to act decisively. Jonathan Gannon should not be coaching the Cardinals in 2026—no matter what the final record says.