The Arizona Cardinals aren't playing today. While the NFL Divisional Round is in full swing—with the Rams and Bears duking it out at Soldier Field and the Texans visiting the Patriots—Arizona is home. Honestly, it’s a quiet Sunday in Glendale, but the silence at State Farm Stadium tells a loud story about a season that went off the rails.
If you’re looking for the Arizona Cardinals score now, the final number of the 2025-2026 campaign is 3-14. That’s the record that eventually cost head coach Jonathan Gannon his job. They closed out the year on January 4, 2026, with a 37-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, a game that basically served as a microcosm for their entire season: flashes of hope followed by a steady slide into the abyss.
The Final Score and the Gannon Exit
The score of that last game doesn't even tell the whole story. The Cardinals actually led the Rams 20-16 in the third quarter after Jacoby Brissett found Josiah Deguara for a touchdown. It felt like they might actually play spoiler. Then, the wheels fell off. Matthew Stafford carved up the secondary, the Rams scored 21 unanswered points, and Arizona secured their ninth consecutive loss.
The fallout was immediate. On January 5, owner Michael Bidwill made it official: Gannon was out.
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It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that actually started 2-0. They beat the Saints. They beat the Panthers. People were talking about "Gannonball" and a culture shift. Then they went 1-14 the rest of the way. You just can’t survive that in the NFL.
Where Things Stand Today
Since there is no Arizona Cardinals score now to report on the field, the "score" is being kept in the front office. General Manager Monti Ossenfort is currently deep in a coaching search that has already involved at least 13 candidates.
- Raheem Morris (former Falcons coach) has already interviewed.
- Robert Saleh (49ers DC) is a hot name.
- Mike LaFleur (Rams OC) is high on the list, especially after seeing what his offense did to Arizona twice this year.
The Kyler Murray Conundrum
You can't talk about Arizona's current state without mentioning Kyler Murray. He spent most of the season on the sideline with a foot injury, leaving Jacoby Brissett to steer a sinking ship. Brissett wasn't terrible—he threw for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns—but he isn't the future.
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The real question is: is Kyler?
National analysts, including those at The Athletic, recently labeled the Cardinals the "most miserable team" entering the 2026 offseason. Why? Because the contract is massive, the production has stalled, and the roster has more holes than a screen door. Trey McBride is a bona fide star—a first-team All-Pro—but he can't block, catch, and throw all at once.
The Bright Spots (Yes, There are a Few)
Despite the 3-14 record, it wasn't all doom and gloom.
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- Trey McBride is arguably the best tight end in the league right now.
- Michael Wilson finally broke the 1,000-yard mark, finishing the season with 1,006 receiving yards.
- The draft capital is significant. Arizona owns the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
That No. 2 pick is the most important "score" the team has. Do they take a franchise quarterback and try to trade Kyler? Or do they grab a generational tackle to protect whoever is under center?
Moving Forward
The Arizona Cardinals score now is zero because the season is over, but the work is just starting. If you’re a fan, you’re watching the playoffs today with a bit of envy. The Seahawks and Rams are still alive, while the Cardinals are watching from the couch.
If Arizona wants to avoid another 14-loss season, the next month is more important than any game they played in December. They need a coach who can actually fix a defense that gave up 488 points—the third-worst in the league.
Keep an eye on the coaching interviews this week. That’s where the real wins will happen. For now, the focus shifts to the scouting combine and the hope that a new regime can finally turn the "Most Miserable Team" into a contender again.
Offseason priority number one: find a coach who knows how to win in the NFC West, because 0-6 in the division just isn't going to cut it.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Monitor the No. 2 Pick: Watch the movement of the top QB prospects in the draft; this dictates if Murray stays or goes.
- Track the DC Search: A defensive-minded coach might be what this unit needs after finishing 29th in scoring defense.
- Cap Watch: Arizona has room to move, but they need to be surgical in free agency rather than just big spenders.