GLENDALE – The NFL head coach with the hottest seat heading into the final few weeks of the season is Arizona Cardinals Jonathan Gannon. The third-year Cardinals coach is 3-11 this year, and 15-33 overall in his tenure. The franchise had plenty of believers heading into this season, before injuries and other factors derailed it into its current state.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!When speaking with the media on Monday, Gannon was asked if he feels like pitching to owner Michael Bidwill to keep his job, which he candidly explained there’s no pitch.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon walks the sidelines as his team plays the Jacksonville Jaguars at State Farm Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Is Gannon on hot seat?
The 42-year-old head coach is solely focused on Atlanta, who Arizona plays in Week 16. Gannon’s having “no pitch” is a quite a double entendre. The obvious one, where he believes a pitch isn’t necessary to keep his job, but the more accurate understanding of the phrase is Gannon has no pitch or reason for him to be the Cardinals head coach in 2026.
Drew Petzing (right), the Arizona Cardinals’ new offensive coordinator, listens to head coach Jonathan Gannon during an introductory news conference for Petzing at the Cardinals practice facility in Tempe on Feb. 23, 2023. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
There are only two reasons Gannon could be coaching the franchise next season. The first is Bidwill likely doesn’t want to pay for two NFL coaches for the next few years, as former head coach Kliff Kingsbury is still picking up paychecks till 2027. Bidwill tends to give coaches 4-5 years before firing them.
Kingsbury was in Arizona for four years, while Bruce Arians coached the team for five years. However, each of them had double digit win seasons under their belt by year 3, while Gannon is going in the opposite direction.
Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis watches his team against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on Nov 3, 2024, in Glendale.
The other option for Bidwill is to fire a coordinator. In the first half of the season, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing seemed like the easy choice on the chopping block. However, the Cardinals have allowed 40+ points four times in the last six games, leaving defensive coordinator Nick Rallis in danger.
Gannon has the trust of the locker room, with many players speaking up to show support for their head coach. That could save his job and lead Bidwill to choosing between Rallis or Petzing to be let go in the offseason. Will that lead to substantial change to improve the team? Unlikely.
The franchise has restarted multiple times, having three head coaches since firing Arians in 2017. Arians was the last head coach to lead Arizona to a playoff win, and a decade later are amidst its worst season ever.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
