While the Cardinals being unable to sustain momentum is not exactly new, given the franchise’s history of slim contention windows, this year’s step backward has been rather alarming. Arizona sits 3-11 after a 2-0 start, inviting obvious questions about the current regime’s future.
Last year’s Cards finished 8-9, representing a substantial improvement from the 2022 and ’23 campaigns — both featuring 4-13 records — as a rebuild commenced. But this move down the standings will keep Gannon’s seat hot until season’s end. A Sunday report indicated Jonathan Gannon is more likely than not to stay, but the Cardinals lost yet again — a 26-19 home blemish to the struggling Falcons.
[RELATED: Kyler Murray Likely To Bring Limited Trade Market]
Monti Ossenfort certainly bears some responsibility for this season, but as it stands, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer views Gannon as being in a bit more trouble than the GM. Front office bosses typically receive longer leashes than coaches, as second-chance GMs have become a rare commodity in today’s game. This season has featured 32 first-time GMs/de facto GMs.
The Cardinals have operated this way as well. Steve Keim received the chance to work with three HCs — Bruce Arians, Steve Wilks, Kliff Kingsbury — while predecessor Rod Graves was on staff with three as well (Dave McGinnis, Dennis Green, Ken Whisenhunt). Both GMs were in-house promotions, and both lasted 10 years. Ossenfort was tasked with launching a rebuild in 2023, and the Cards’ history points to him being retained even if Gannon is fired.
Gannon, however, has overseen a seven-game losing streak during a stretch featuring 11 losses in 12 games. Eight of those losses have come by one score, but Arizona’s defense has regressed despite notable offseason investments. A defense-oriented coach, Gannon has seen he and Nick Rallis‘ unit sink to 26th in scoring and 29th in yardage. A 2024 group lacking the front-seven talent this year’s team possesses finished 15th and 21st in those categories, respectively.
This Cards regime also has not had the opportunity to acquire its own starting quarterback. Though, Gannon and Ossenfort praised Kyler Murray at nearly every turn between being hired and Week 1 of this season. Murray has since been shut down and is widely expected to be elsewhere in 2026.
Ossenfort’s first-round picks have been a mixed bag as well. Paris Johnson Jr. has performed well, playing both tackle spots during his career, but Marvin Harrison Jr. has not taken off as a No. 1-level wideout yet (though, 2023 third-rounder Michael Wilson has flashed brightly during this season’s second half). Pro Football Focus ranks Darius Robinson 128th out of 128 qualified interior D-linemen. Fellow first-round D-tackle Walter Nolen did not debut until November this season due to injury.
Michael Bidwill has given three of his past four HCs at least four seasons, but Whisenhunt, Arians and Kingsbury produced playoff trips by Year 3. The exception was Wilks, whom the team canned after a 3-13 season. This Cards edition has not been as bad as that 2018 squad, which was outscored by 200 points (it is at minus-93 presently), but this group’s struggles leave Gannon’s future up in the air.
has the defense regressed this year because the offense has regressed or has the defense regressed independently of the offense?
I’m still working on the chicken or egg came first puzzle 🙂