Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is the most underrated head coach in the NFL. There, I said it. Call me biased, but the shift that he has brought to this franchise is undeniable.
As the Cardinals enter mandatory minicamp, the effect that Gannon has had is undeniable.
Jonathan Gannon has built a unique culture with the Cardinals
Look around the NFL. Every day, a new story breaks about a player holding out for a new contract, making a trade request, or complaining about their team. Some teams are missing multiple players at minicamps because of ongoing contract disputes. Stars like Terry McLaurin and Trey Hendrickson have been vocal about feeling disrespected by their respective front offices.
You know who hasn't had any of those issues? The Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have stayed out of the headlines this offseason, which is the best possible scenario as they prepare for a playoff push in 2025.
Reportedly, the Cardinals were not missing a single player on the first day of mandatory minicamp. That may seem like a minor detail, but it makes the Cardinals stand out in the modern NFL. Every player on the roster is focused on preparing for the upcoming season because every player has been shown respect by their head coach and front office.
Gannon knows what a winning culture looks like. Before taking over as the Cardinals' head coach in 2023, Gannon was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. As painful as it may be to admit, the Eagles have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL over the past five years. Gannon learned what a winning culture looks like, and he's grafted that into Arizona.
Like most things in the NFL, building a winning franchise takes time. The results haven't quite come yet for Jonathan Gannon, but his team has shown consistent progress. In his first year as head coach, the Cardinals finished with a record of 4-13. The next season, they improved drastically, finishing 8-9. If the Cardinals can just continue on the same trajectory that they have been on in the past two seasons, they'll be playoff-bound in 2025.
Jonathan Gannon, along with general manager Monti Ossenfort, is in the middle of building something special with the Arizona Cardinals. If he is given enough time, it's hard to imagine that the Cardinals would remain on the outside of the playoff picture. This year, Gannon might finally receive the recognition that he deserves.