The Arizona Cardinals came out firing (literally) to start their offseason endeavors, as the team relieved head coach Jonathan Gannon of his duties on Monday. The team lost their season finale on the road against the Los Angeles Rams 37–20, capping off the nine-game losing streak.
Gannon was the Cardinals' coach for three years, and he compiled a 15–36 record over that span. However, the team went from eight wins in 2024 to just three in 2025, leading to a quick hook from upper management.
What most people don’t know is that Gannon’s final game as the Cardinals’ coach came on a very special day for him, as he celebrated his 43rd birthday that day.
What did the Cardinals gift Gannon on his birthday? Well, they fired him a day later, so you could say it is the worst birthday gift of all time, as the team sent him home to unemployment.
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Luckily for Gannon, there will be plenty of teams looking for new coordinators after the next set of hirings takes place. Before being hired by the Cardinals in 2023, Gannon was the mastermind behind one of the league’s best defenses in 2022, serving as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator. A team that made it to the Super Bowl.
So far, the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Atlanta Falcons will all be looking to assemble new staffs. This is a prime opportunity for Gannon to get his career back on track as a defensive coordinator.
But for now, what an awful way to celebrate your birthday. It is very cold in the NFL world, especially during this time of year. Literally and figuratively.