Jonathan

Gannon

Fangio, 67, could consider retirement, but Garafolo does add that the discussions between Fangio and the Eagles have “been leaning to the positive recently but anything good change.” The Eagles reportedly considered Browns DC Jim Schwartz and new Packers DC Jonathan Gannon to replace Fangio should he opt not to return, but Schwartz would be the only option available of the two, and that’s assuming the Browns let him after his contract after the decision to pass on him for their head-coaching vacancy. This will be a situation to monitor until there’s a permanent solution, but Fangio’s defense was fifth in points allowed last season and ranked 13th in total yards allowed.

Gannon lasted three years as the Cardinals’ head coach before the team fired him at the end of the 2025 season. Gannon’s defenses finished 31st, 15th, and 29th in points allowed. While the Cardinals undoubtedly lacked talent on Gannon’s side of the ball, his inability to string two decent seasons together on defense was one of the many reasons Arizona showed him the door. Gannon is replacing Jeff Hafley, who was hired as the Dolphins’ head coach. The hope is that with a full cupboard on defense, headlined by Micah Parsons, Gannon will get better results in Green Bay.

Gannon let go by the Cardinals after three underwhelming seasons as head coach. He previously spent two seasons as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, making the Super Bowl in that time. The Cowboys have already interviewed Gannon, who will talk to Green Bay for the potential to work with Micah Parsons and the Packer defense. With Jeff Hafley leaving to coach the Dolphins, the Packers have a vacancy that could be filled by Gannon.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Gannon had interviewed with the Cowboys earlier this week, ostensibly via video. The Cowboys are reportedly set to host two more in-person meetings, one with Eagles DB coach and pass game coordinator Christian Parker and the other with Vikings DB coach and pass game coordinator and Daronte Jones.

Per Schrager, Bullen has a chance to remove the “interim” part of his title, which makes sense. He significantly improved the Giants’ defensive performance after receiving the in-season promotion in Week 13, improving their quarterback pressure rate from 32.9 to 39.9 percent and lowering their yards allowed per play average from 6.1 to 5.1. The remaining four candidates include former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Ravens DC Zach Orr and Browns DC Jim Schwartz.

They probably want to ask him how it felt to be the only team to lose a game to Brian Callahan this year. Gannon also has an interview on Thursday with the Commanders regarding their defensive coordinator role. Gannon’s market is now “heating up,” if that’s what you want to call it. The deposed former Cardinals coach met with the Cowboys today to interview for their defensive coordinator vacancy.

Finally a big name in this search. Gannon was more quirky than good as Eagles defensive coordinator, something he carried over with him in the desert as the unit spit out a 21st-place finish in defensive DVOA in 2025 after a ton of offseason investments in players like Josh Sweat and Will Johnson. Gannon would at least have more time to focus on calling a defense as a coordinator again.

Despite lukewarm reports over the weekend that Gannon might be safe, the Cardinals decided to move on from the 43-year-old coach after three seasons, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Arizona was 15-36 under Gannon in three years, including an 8-9 campaign in 2024. This year, the Cardinals finished the season with nine consecutive losses and losses in 14 of its last 15 games, making the situation untenable. GM Monti Ossenfort will lead the search for a new coach and is in for a busy offseason with the Cardinals also likely to move on from quarterback Kyler Murray.

We’re not sure what else Gannon would have to do to lose his job at this point. They’ve reeled off eight straight losses to fall to 3-13 and will face a motivated Rams team today to likely fall to 3-14. Despite massive monetary investments in their defense this offseason, the former Eagles defensive coordinator Gannon has the Cardinals 27th in defensive DVOA. They’ve allowed 40 points four different times during their losing streak, and allowed 37 to the Bengals in Week 17 before they mercifully pulled Joe Burrow. Despite these results, Gannon is apparently viewed as safe.

Something has to change with the Cardinals losing 13 of their last 14 games in Gannon’s third year on the job, just don’t expect it to be the 42-year-old former defensive coordinator’s job status. Despite Kyler Murray being injured for much of the season, the offseason focus will be on how they can get rid of Murray rather than Gannon, according to Rapoport. Gannon, who inherited Murray, will also have a say along with GM Monti Ossenfort in selecting the next Cardinals QB. With Murray’s years of failure in Arizona outnumbering Gannon’s, it seems he was destined to lose this power struggle. At some point, though, the results have to turn around for Gannon to remain in place past next season.