If you’re looking for a name to put next to the title of "Head Coach" for the Arizona Cardinals right now, you’re going to find a giant, desert-sized vacancy.
Seriously.
As of January 17, 2026, the Arizona Cardinals do not have a head coach.
The seat is still warm, though. Just a few days ago, on January 5, 2026, the team officially parted ways with Jonathan Gannon. It was a move that felt both inevitable and jarring, depending on which side of the "Bird City" fence you sit on. After three seasons and a mountain of losses, owner Michael Bidwill and GM Monti Ossenfort decided they’d seen enough.
The Fall of the Gannon Era
Jonathan Gannon arrived in the Valley with a lot of energy. You probably remember the viral clips of him asking players if they had "fire in their gut." Honestly, some people loved the intensity; others thought it was a bit much. But in the NFL, charisma only buys you time if you're stacking wins. Gannon didn't.
He finishes his tenure in Arizona with a 15-36 record. That is... not great.
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The 2025 season was supposed to be the "leap" year. After a semi-promising 8-9 finish in 2024, expectations were actually high. Then the wheels didn't just fall off; they disintegrated. The Cardinals finished 3-14, the most losses in the history of a franchise that’s been around since 1920. That’s a lot of bad football.
What actually went wrong?
It wasn't just the losing. It was the way they lost. You’ve got to look at the specifics to understand why Bidwill pulled the trigger:
- The Nine-Game Skid: Arizona ended the 2025 season losing nine straight games. They weren't even competitive in the final month, losing by double digits repeatedly.
- The Demercado Incident: Back in October, Gannon was caught on camera in a heated altercation with running back Emari Demercado after a fumble. He supposedly swiped at the player and was later fined $100,000 by the team. It was a bad look that signaled a loss of composure.
- Divisional Woes: You can't survive in the NFC West going 0-6 against your rivals. Gannon’s Cardinals were bullied by the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks.
- Injury Bug: To be fair, they had 25 players on Injured Reserve. Kyler Murray missed the final 12 games with a foot injury, leaving Jacoby Brissett to steer a sinking ship.
Who is Calling the Shots Now?
With Gannon out, the power structure in Tempe is a bit lopsided. Monti Ossenfort is still the General Manager. Bidwill made it clear that while the coach is gone, he still trusts the guy picking the players.
Right now, the team is in "search mode." They’ve already reached out to over a dozen candidates. If you're wondering who might be the next coach of the Arizona Cardinals, the rumor mill is spinning fast.
Names like Klint Kubiak and Jesse Minter are floating around. There's even some wild chatter about a Kliff Kingsbury return—though, honestly, that feels like a fever dream for most fans. The most interesting name mentioned lately is Robert Saleh, who reportedly has an interview scheduled.
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The Kyler Murray Factor
You can't talk about the Cardinals' coaching job without talking about Kyler Murray. He’s the $230 million elephant in the room.
Whoever takes this job has to decide: Is Kyler the guy?
Ossenfort has been vague. He recently said "all options are on the table," which is GM-speak for we might draft a replacement with the No. 3 pick. If a new coach comes in and wants a fresh start at QB, we could see the most chaotic offseason in Arizona history.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Job
People think the Cardinals job is a "coaching graveyard." It’s true they’ve churned through guys like Steve Wilks, Kliff Kingsbury, and now Gannon in short order. But look at what the next coach actually gets:
- The No. 3 Overall Pick: That is a massive asset.
- A Clean Slate: Expectations are so low right now that a 7-win season would feel like a Super Bowl.
- Core Talent: Trey McBride just set the NFL record for receptions by a tight end (126!). There are pieces here.
Basically, the Cardinals are a "fixer-upper" with a really nice foundation if you know where to look.
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Actionable Steps for Fans Following the Search
If you're trying to keep up with who the coach of the Arizona Cardinals will be, don't just refresh Twitter. Here’s how to actually track the progress:
- Watch the Interview Requests: Under NFL rules, most of these initial interviews are virtual. The "real" candidates are the ones brought to the Tempe facility for a second look in late January.
- Monitor the No. 3 Pick Rumors: If the Cardinals start scouting quarterbacks heavily at the Senior Bowl, it’s a sign they want a coach who specializes in developing rookies.
- Check the Coordinator Moves: Sometimes a head coach is hired because of who he can bring with him. If you hear a big-name Defensive Coordinator is "attached" to a candidate, that candidate's stock goes up.
The Arizona Cardinals are at a total crossroads. They tried the "young, energetic coordinator" route with Gannon and it backfired spectacularly. Whether they go with a veteran "culture setter" or another schematic whiz will tell us everything we need to know about the next three years of football in the desert.
Stay tuned, because this vacancy won't stay open much longer.
Next Steps: You can track the official interview list on the Cardinals' team website or follow local insiders like Darren Urban for real-time updates on when the next "Flight Plan" might drop.