Arizona Cardinals to interview Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon for HC opening
The Arizona Cardinals were scheduled to conduct their latest interview with a head coaching candidate on Monday when they reportedly planned to meet with Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon the day after he and the team lost Super Bowl 57 to the Chiefs at State Farm Stadium.
Whether Gannon, 40, is offered the job before leaving the Cardinals’ Tempe training facility remains to be seen. The team is expected to announce its replacement for Kliff Kingsbury at some point this week.
Gannon became one of three known finalists, joining Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, both of whom have interviewed twice with Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill and new General Manager Monti Ossenfort.
If Gannon is the choice, Eagles pass rusher Haason Reddick said his former team is getting a great coach.
“He brings a lot of youth, energy and intelligence and he’s just a great character all around,” Reddick said after the Eagles’ 38-35 loss in Glendale. “Getting to known Gannon this year, I told him I appreciate him. I love him because he lets his players be who they are at the end of the day and if he decides to leave, whoever’s getting him I think they have a great head coach and someone the players will really take to.
“So, we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, he doesn’t go but that is for my own selfish reasons. I like Gannon and whatever he decides, I support him. He worked hard for it and it’s all love."
Gannon just completed his second season as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator under coach Nick Sirianni. Under Gannon’s direction, Philadelphia’s defense ranked first in the NFL against the pass (179.8 yards per game) and second in total defense (301.5). The Eagles also led the league in sacks during the regular season with 70 and their total of 78, including the playoffs, were the third-most in a single season by any team.
Philadelphia failed to sack Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes once on Sunday, however, as the league and Super Bowl MVP guided the Chiefs to three fourth-quarter scoring drives, including a 27-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with eight seconds left to play to win it.
Sirianni said he’d have to look at the tape to see what went wrong on defense.
“You can’t give a team like that a short field or seven points off a turnover,” he said after the game. “… We’ll look at it. I can’t exactly tell you this or that, but I thought we were playing a really good offense. We gave up 24 points at the end of the day. It’s tough to give them a short field. That’s why this is the ultimate team game. We’re all in this together – offense, defense, special teams.
“I just felt a couple times we put the defense in a tough spot in the defensive area.”
Gannon was a finalist for the Texans’ head coaching job before Houston hired Lovie Smith in 2022 and DeMeco Ryans this year. Gannon previously coached with the Falcons (2007), Titans (2012-13), Vikings (2014-17) and Colts (2018-20). He also spent three years as a scout with the Rams (2009-11).
More: Cards coach speculation swirls around Eagles coordinator | Eric Bieniemy as Cardinals coordinator, not head coach? | Mahomes credits Kansas City OC for Super Bowl play of the game
Cardinals mourn death of Conrad Dobler
The Cardinals announced the passing of former Pro Bowl guard Conrad Dobler on Monday in Pueblo, Colo. He was 72.
Dobler was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth round of the 1972 draft out of Wyoming and played 10 seasons with the Cardinals (1972-77), Saints (1978-79) and Bills (1980-81). Playing for head coach Don Coryell, who was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week, Dobler was a key member of the Cardinals’ teams that posted three consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins from 1974-76, including NFC East titles in 1974 and ’75.
“Our hearts go out to the family, friends and former teammates of Conrad Dobler,” Bidwill said in a statement. “He was the kind of tough, physical and fierce player that you love to line up with as a teammate and hate to line up against as an opponent.
“On the field, Conrad was a big reason for the success of the Cardiac Cards of the 1970s. Away from it, he brought authentic joy and caring to everyone who had the privilege of being his friend and that is what I will remember most.”
Related: Super Bowl 57 turf slammed after game: 'Do better, NFL'
Cardinals lose physical therapist consultant
Brett Fischer, a longtime physical therapist consultant for the Cardinals, announced on social media he is leaving the team to become the Director of Player Health and Performance for the Detroit Lions.
Fischer is widely regarded as one of the top rehab specialists in the NFL and works with players from all teams at his Arizona-based facility, Fischer Institute Consulting, during the offseason. In a post on Instagram, Fischer thanked Bidwill for “giving me an amazing opportunity the past 15 seasons.”
Somers: Hey, NFL: Just move the Super Bowl to Arizona permanently. The games are better here
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals are interviewing Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon on Monday
