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Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
The Green Bay Packers have enough talent to win a Super Bowl — they just need the right people too help them tap into it.
One of those people may have been found as the Packers made a big move to solidify their defense by hiring former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator and former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator.
Gannon went 15-36 in 3 seasons with the Cardinals and was fired on January 6 after going 3-14 in his final season.
The Packers found themselves with a defensive coordinator opening after Jeff Hafley was hired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
“Packers are hiring former Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon as their defensive coordinator, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on X.
Gannon was the defensive coordinator for the Eagles for 2 seasons, in 2021 and 2022, with a run to the Super Bowl following the 2022 season.
Gannon’s HC Career: One Mistake After Another
Let’s not get it twisted: The Packers are giving Gannon a much-needed chance to re-invent himself. Gannon was fired on Black Monday and in a move the Cardinals didn’t seem to hesitate on.
“He never reached the playoffs while also never finishing higher than third in the NFC West,” ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss wrote on Monday, January 5. “Arizona went 4-13 in 2023 to finish last in the division and 8-9 last season to finish third. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort will spearhead the search for a new head coach. Ossenfort and Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill talked last night and then again this morning before informing Gannon that he was being fired. Gannon was able tell the players and coaches during a team meeting this morning.”
Gannon’s tenure with the Cardinals was tinged with controversy from before he even coached his first game. That controversy may have even cost the Eagles a Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2022 season.
The Cardinals ended up having to pay a fine and swap third round draft picks with the Eagles — giving the Eagles the higher pick — after they were found to have negotiated with Gannon during the one-week impermissible period for contact before the Super Bowl.
In a game the Eagles lost 38-35, it’s impossible not to speculate the slimmest of margins may have cost the Eagles — say, for example, something missed when Gannon was negotiating his deal with the Cardinals instead of game planning for the Chiefs.
Ugly Sideline Incident Led to $100,000 Fine
The Cardinals fined Gannon $100,000 for a fiery moment between himself and running back Emari Demercado in a Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
The viral video of the incident showed Gannon on Arizona’s sideline yelling at Demercado after he let go of the ball right before crossing the goal line on what should have been a 72-yard touchdown run but was instead a touchdback. At one point, Gannon punched/pushed Demercado’s right arm as he walked away.
The touchdown would have given the Cardinals a 28-6 lead over the Titans with 12:40 left in the fourth quarter. Following Demercado’s fumble, Tennessee rallied for a 22-21 win.
“The moment Jonathan Gannon struck Emari Demercado on the sidelines with a closed fist, he was done in Arizona.” Josh Gitt wrote on X. “He lost the locker room at that point, as evidenced with their 9 game losing streak to end the season.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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