Following the Eagles’ narrow loss in Super Bowl LVII, Jonathan Gannon stayed in Arizona for his Cardinals interview. The second-year defensive coordinator has gained steam for the Arizona HC gig to the point he looks to be the favorite.
Gannon has been on the Cardinals’ radar for a bit, and the Eagles are at least making a pitch to keep him. The NFC champions have attempted to convince Gannon to stay on as their DC, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Gannon was a Texans finalist last year, but the Cardinals have been the only team to seriously consider him this year.
Although the Cardinals’ search appeared to have dwindled to Lou Anarumo and Mike Kafka entering Super Bowl LVII, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano adds rumblings persisted about their interest in interviewing Gannon and Eagles OC Shane Steichen for a while. Gannon and new Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, per Vacchiano, have been friends for a bit, despite never working together. Steichen is on track to become the next Colts head coach.
The Eagles had used Vic Fangio as a defensive consultant throughout the season, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane (on Twitter), and the accomplished defensive coach had planned to stay on through Super Bowl LVII all along. This arrangement kept his Dolphins gig from becoming official for a bit. Signed to a three-year deal worth more than $4.5MM per season, Fangio is now believed to be the NFL’s highest-paid defensive coordinator. He would have likely been the top option to replace Gannon, Breer adds, but several teams showed interest before the Philly DC vacancy became likely. The 49ers also appeared to have Fangio as their top option, but the Dolphins’ offer won out.
Should Gannon end up being the Cardinals’ next HC, Vacchiano notes Eagles passing-game coordinator Dennard Wilson would make for a natural replacement candidate. Wilson, 40, has been an NFL DBs coach since 2015, serving in that capacity with the Rams, Jets and Eagles. He interviewed for the Browns’ DC job earlier this year, seeing it go to ex-Eagles DC Jim Schwartz.
Steichen and Gannon both leaving would make the Eagles the first team to see both their coordinators land HC jobs since the 2013 Bengals, who lost Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer. The Cardinals have been at this HC search for a while, and their job might end up being the last one filled. The team saw Brian Flores — a reported finalist — bow out of the race, and higher-profile target Sean Payton chose the Broncos. Dan Quinn also withdrew from multiple searches, while DeMeco Ryans cancelled his Cardinals and Colts interviews. Frank Reich landed in Carolina. It is not known how far Reich was going to advance in Arizona’s search, but this process has dragged into a sixth week now.
Did the Eagles get any pressure on Mahomes?
Did they even try?
A terrible defensive scheme literally just cost the Eagles the SB but sure, hire that guy.
They’re the Cardinals for a reason.
The Eagles’ strength is certainly in their roster, and I’m not high on Gannon, but I don’t know if I’d lay the loss entirely at his feet. I don’t think that Philadelphia was ever a “strategy” team this year-they were always a “put your right guys in the right places and let them use their strengths” type of team. I suppose Gannon deserves some credit for that, but I don’t think that he was ever the type of coach who was going to outgenius you to win the game. So, yes, a better coach may have schemed better, but this team was never built to be that type, and that’s how they played all year, and it was mostly effective for them.
I actually was of the opinion that Philadelphia underachieved schematically on both sides of the ball in certain areas. Overall, they played very well, though. Gannon has faced questions several times due to his scheming in the past, which is why this doesn’t really surprise me at the end of the day. Would Gannon achieve the same results without a loaded roster? My initial inclination is to say no. But Gannon always seems to earn trust from his players and superiors, so he must have some kind of way with them. He’s been criticized publically by players-including Fletcher Cox-and responded very humbly. It seems that he has high character and has mostly been stoic in the face of criticism. My guess is that he has an ability to handle criticism-and perhaps heed it-that impresses coworkers and superiors.
NO!!!! Please let him go!!!!!!!
How about Seth Joyner for DC and Duce Staley for OC?
I agree bumpy!
A rookie GM, a rookie HC, and no QB for most of 2023. What could go wrong?
*Jets fans wave hello*
You know that expression, “maybe he just doesn’t interview well”? Apparently Gannon is one who does in fact interview well. He was in consideration last year for hc gigs as well and has a reputation around the league as a bright young mind. Remember how anyone outside of Philly never heard of John Harbaugh, the special teams coach who vaulted to a head coach? He had a reputation as a guy who was head coach material even though we basically never heard of him. Gannon is the same thing apparently. Remains to be seen how accurate or not that is.
nnnnnooooooo!!!!!!!
Please let him go. Please.