Gannon ready to lead Cards after whirlwind process
Jonathan Gannon said multiple times Thursday that he’s a big believer “in being where your feet are.”
His two feet have taken him through quite the whirlwind over the past 96 hours.
Gannon officially was introduced as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach on Thursday morning, just four days after the Super Bowl, his final game as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The 40-year-old only had a few hours to prepare for his interview with the Cardinals on Monday and his approach to arguably the biggest meeting of his professional life could be instructive about how he’ll approach his first NFL head coaching job.
“I got in here and just let it rip,” Gannon said.
The Cardinals liked what they heard. Now he’s the team’s fourth head coach in seven years.
Gannon will team with new general manager Monti Ossenfort, who was hired last month, on a franchise overhaul following a 4-13 season that included an avalanche of injuries and offthe-field distractions. The coach’s hiring comes after a meandering search that took more than a month.
Ossenfort said the Cardinals interviewed about 10 candidates before settling on Gannon.
“Ultimately, our process led us to Jonathan,” Ossenfort said. “Jonathan’s energy when he entered the room — it was nonstop from the beginning — all the more impressive coming off a Super Bowl just hours before he stepped in our room.”
Gannon replaces Kliff Kingsbury, who was fired after going 28-37-1 over four seasons.
About a dozen current Cardinals players attended Thursday’s news conference, including quarterback Kyler Murray, who is just six weeks removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. Murray’s presence was appreciated by Gannon, who gave that love right back during his introduction.
“Not too many times you take over a team and you have a franchise quarterback,” Gannon said. “That was very appealing.”
Gannon’s resume took a bit of a hit during the Super Bowl. The Eagles coughed up a 10-point halftime lead and couldn’t stop Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, even though the MVP wasn’t moving at his best because of a sprained ankle.
That hiccup wasn’t enough to deter Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, who is trying to find a leader who can help the franchise win its first NFL championship since 1947.
Until the Super Bowl, the Eagles had a stellar defensive season. They had the NFL’s No. 2 defense and led the league with 70 sacks during the regular season — 15 more than any other team.
“We’re going to be adaptable, we’re going to be violent, we’re going to be explosive and we’re going to be smart,” Gannon said.
Gannon inherits a team with some quality players — including Murray, safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson, and linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins. The Cardinals also have the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Field hockey MORETT-CURTIS RETIRES AS PENN STATE COACH >>
Char Morett-Curtiss announced her retirement as Penn State’s field hockey coach Wednesday after a career that spanned 39 seasons.
She will continue to remain with the team in an advising role.
Morett-Curtiss led Penn State to an overall record of 575-239-16, six Final Four appearances and 30 NCAA Tournament berths.
She capped her coaching career with a 17-4 record in 2022 and made one last Final Four appearance.