By Max Harper
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Arizona Cardinals are hiring Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon as their new head coach just two days after Gannon’s defense gave up 24 second-half points in a 38-35 Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs..
Gannon had been the Eagles’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons and turned Philly into a top-10 defense in his first year, and this season, the Eagles ranked No. 2 in the league while boasting two Pro Bowlers.
Gannon replaces Kliff Kingsbury, who was fired in January after going 28-37-1 with one playoff appearance in four seasons, and becomes the Cardinals’ fourth head coach in seven years.
He inherits a roster set for an overhaul, with 31 players expected to become unrestricted free agents.
Earlier today, the Indianapolis Colts hired Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.
The last Super Bowl team to lose both coordinators to head coaching jobs was the 1994 49ers, when Mike Shanahan was hired by the Denver Broncos and Ray Rhodes was hired by the Eagles, according to NFL Research.
Bidwill hired Gannon after being connected to eight other candidates, including Sean Payton, Brian Flores and Dan Quinn.
Arizona is coming off a 4-13 season. Since reaching the 2015 NFC Championship Game, the Cardinals have made just one playoff appearance, a wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams after the 2021 season.
