As the franchise quarterback held court at the first annual Kyler Murray Celebrity Softball Game, there too was his head coach. Jonathan Gannon, entering year three for the club, walked the diamond with his young son among a sea of Valley diehards hoping to grab the coach’s attention. The 42-year-old Cleveland native, in a span of 24 months, has helped to transform the culture of this once sputtering franchise through character, accountability and trust.
For the first time in a decade, the Arizona Cardinals sport the kind of coaching, roster construction and internal belief to truly contend in the NFC.
Gone are the days in which the Cardinals opt to roster build almost exclusively via free agency. Instead, Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort are the first true administration since the franchise’s arrival in Arizona to prioritize drafting and developing. Ossenfort has masterfully orchestrated a roster rebuild, spanning three offseasons, that has been fueled by 28 drafted players.
Of those selections, all remain a part of the organization in some capacity while every top-100 pick has either seized a starting job or is poised for an expanded role. Those selections don’t include the bevy of undrafted free agents and roster claims alike such as CB Starling Thomas V (UDFA), TE Elijah Higgins (6th Round) and RB Emari Demercado (UDFA).
“What is hard is if you don’t love ball, you stick out,” Gannon told PHNX Cardinals when speaking about his newest crop of rookies. “And they all love ball.”
But to maximize the output of youth on this roster, something other Cardinal regimes failed to accomplish, the organization had to match the kind of high-end coaching that the NFC West has become known for. Drew Petzing (OC) and Nick Rallis (DC) have been fully empowered by Gannon, owning their side of the ball while calling plays in the process.
Since his arrival, Petzing sports one of the league’s most potent rushing attacks while all but eliminating the offensive line woes that have long plagued this franchise. Despite the presence of an inconsistent passing game, Petzing earned his first head coaching interview this past offseason with the Chicago Bears. Those kinds of requests also figure to be en route for Rallis, the league’s youngest defensive coordinator. Even with injuries to key players like B.J. Ojulari and Darius Robinson, Rallis put together a three-game home stretch (Chargers, Bears, Jets) in which his Cardinals defense did not allow a touchdown.
The 31-year-old has Arizona’s revamped defense poised for their first top-five finish since Todd Bowles manned the unit under then head coach Bruce Arians.
Speaking of Arians, it’s easy to draw comparisons to that of JG. Both have allowed the Cardinals opportunities to compete even when the overall roster didn’t necessarily support it. Both are able to garner the attention of top-end free agent coaches and players alike. Both are unabashedly authentic in who they are and what they believe and their players love them for it.
Yet perhaps the most obvious difference in the two men is the timeline in which the Valley will get to enjoy their teams. It was always understood that there was a limited window under Arians, especially considering he was already 60 years old when the club made the hire. Like many of his marquee players (Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald), the Arians era of Arizona Cardinals football always had a shelf-life.
That’s not the case with Gannon, who likely presents the Cardinals’ best opportunity at sustained success in recent history. Should the Cardinals make the postseason in 2025, a well-deserved contract extension will likely follow.
“We need to win and do what we need to do to make the community really proud… get what they deserve to get behind a winning team that’s in the hunt,” Gannon said. “That’s the goal.”
Winning can be especially difficult in a division the boasts the likes of Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan and the seemingly always relevant Seahawk franchise. In 2024, Gannon’s club passed the eye test, exposing the dysfunctional and unprepared. The head coach showed he could out-duel the likes of Jim Harbaugh in primetime, while finishing a respectable 3-3 in the NFC West.
Yet certain personnel deficiencies continued to plague the 53 following years of roster malpractice from the prior regime. Of the Cardinals nine losses last season, eight were against teams with winning records.
This past offseason, in his most aggressive effort to date, Ossenfort wisely equipped Gannon with a complete overhaul for his long underserved defensive front. Free agent pass rusher Josh Sweat’s arrival cannot be undersold. Sweat came close to capturing Super Bowl MVP honors last February for the Eagles, and during Gannon’s final season in Philadelphia, posted the highest sack total of his career (11). Cardinals brass is confident “Sweaty” can regain that form for a unit desperate for disruption.
Add in the likes of Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell, and this year’s 16th overall pick Walter Nolen, and the Cardinals are finally ready to win with four upfront on defense.
Gannon now enters a 2025 slate equipped with the kind of premier talent capable of capturing the Cardinals’ first division title in 10 seasons.
That path for success starts at State Farm Stadium, a place that has too often seen an influx of opposing fans flood premium seating thanks to the greediness of out-of-touch season ticket holders looking to cash in. It does appear, however, that the Cardinals’ current regime has a plan in place to limit the resale of tickets to opposing fanbases. That, along with an NFC West best 6-3 home record in 2024, should give Cardinals fans reason for hope when making their way out to Glendale this fall.
But what about hope under center in the form of QB Kyler Murray?
“That’s our heartbeat,” said Gannon. “I think he’s gonna blow it out of the water this year. I think he’s gonna have his best year as a pro.”
After an ACL injury forced him to miss half of Gannon’s first season in Arizona, Murray played in all 17 games in 2024. Although efficient, both Gannon and Murray have preached consistency when looking back at where the QB can improve entering a pivotal 2025.
While Murray’s electric playmaking is always a welcomed sight, the current state of the Cardinals roster should allow the 27-year-old an opportunity to navigate the position differently. After years of being asked to put on the Superman cape, Murray can take solace in knowing he’s bookended by an ascending defense and an offense littered with young stars.
Oh, and a head coach that continues to have unwavering support for the former first overall pick.
The Arizona Cardinals national perception remains grey and my guess is their head coach is just fine with that. There’s no shtick with Gannon; no gimmick to put on a t-shirt. Unlike some other coaches, JG doesn’t require the presence of a hulking security guard desperate for air time. Outside of this market, no one truly knows what to make of this club. Yet those in the Valley understand what could be instore for a fanbase that has been more than patient. After three offseasons of rebuilding, Gannon’s Arizona Cardinals can suddenly beat you a in multitude of ways.
Run game. Explosives. Pressures. Takeaways. QB play. Coaching.
Sounds like all the ingredients needed for a winner. Buckle up.
