Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon brought his midweek press conference to an abrupt halt with a stark, walk-off answer on Wednesday.
When a reporter asked when he first learned to remove emotion from coaching in the face of adversity like injuries, Gannon replied instantly, “2007, when our quarterback went to jail.” His comment was followed by a brief, stunned silence before the press conference concluded.
The remark referenced his first year in the NFL as a defensive quality control assistant for the Atlanta Falcons under head coach Bobby Petrino. That season was thrown into turmoil when star quarterback Michael Vick was indicted on federal dogfighting charges. Later that year, Petrino also abruptly resigned to take a head coaching position at Arkansas.
Gannon’s candid reflection comes during a challenging period in Arizona. Just ten days ago, he was handed a six-figure fine for a sideline interaction with running back Emari Demercado.
Now in his second year, Gannon is leading a franchise that has not kept a head coach for more than six seasons. While his comment on Wednesday won’t determine his job security, it highlights the pressure he faces as questions mount about his future with the team.
Source link
