GLENDALE – Head coach Jonathan Gannon has been fired after three season with the Arizona Cardinals, following a 3-14 2025 season with the most losses in franchise history. General manager Monti Ossenfort will search for the 44th head coach in the team’s history. There is currently six open head coaching spots in the NFL, making it a competitive field for Arizona to find next head coach.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The teams with vacancy will all be looking at two candidates, with the Cardinals possibly looking at one candidate in house to replace Gannon.
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Top three candidates for Cardinals head coaching job:
The top candidate will be Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. One of the few top candidates to have head coaching experience, as he had two seasons in Denver from 2017-2018. However, a combined 11-21 record saw him let go shortly after. Joseph has ties to the Cardinals, being the defensive coordinator for the franchise following his stint with Broncos.
Joseph’s stint in Arizona lasted four seasons, peaking from 2020-2021 where he led the defense to being fringe top 10 in points both years. Despite the proven success, a disastrous 2022 led to then head coach Kliff Kingsbury being fired and Joseph as well, with Gannon being brought in.
The 53-year-old doesn’t fit the modern mold of hiring a young offensive minded head coach that other teams have followed suit in past years. Regardless, Joseph is a proven commodity that has a history with the franchise and would be a poetic return after being fired and replaced by Gannon and his staff.
Aug 25, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The next candidate would be a first time head coach in Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. The prototypical modern head coaching candidate at 39 years old and has worked his way up head coach Sean McVay’s system. Shula was brought in around the same time as McVay to be assistant Linebackers coach. He remained as a linebackers coach until 2021 before being elevated to defensive backs.
It wouldn’t be until 2024 that Shula would be elevated to his current role as defensive coordinator, which he has improved greatly in the two-year span. The Rams defensive coordinator inherited a young defense in his first year, but still managed to have a serviceable defense because of his stellar pass rush that was fifth in the league.
In 2025, Los Angeles’s defense has improved in every aspect, jumping from 17th in points allowed into the top 10. Shula is a massive reason for the jump and has earned for the Cardinals to take a look at when looking for their next head coach.
Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The final candidate for Arizona is in-house, that being defensive coordinator Nick Rallis. Despite his defense just allowing the most points every by a Cardinals team in the past 100 years, reports are the team is high on the 32-year-old. Rallis has had to coach a injury-riddled defense that had nine players on injury reserve for the unit, with four of them being starters from 2024.
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.
In the first eight games, the semi healthy Cardinals defense allowed 21.4 points per game, which would place them 12th in current league rankings. The unit then put linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. on injury reserve, which began a snowball effect of other injuries and bad defensive performances. In the final 10 games, Arizona allowed 35.2 points per game. The worst defense during that span and dragging them to 29th for the season.
Ossenfort could take a big chance on Rallis by making him the second youngest head coach in NFL modern history, behind McVay. Despite the chance being slim, the team’s view on Rallis could lead him remaining with the team in some capacity if Bidwill and Ossenfort have their way.
BREAKING: Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon, keep GM Monti Ossenfort
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
