During the Cardinals’ official team uniform reveal on Thursday night, new coach Jonathan Gannon took time to lament about his previous job as defensive coordinator of the Eagles.
Gannon, who spent two seasons in Philadelphia, claimed the Philly media wanted him fired due to his “lack of blitzing.”
"I'm very comfortable talking to the media," said Gannon. "Philly is a very hard media market. We were 9–0 and I did my presser and they say, Coach, we want you fired… I said, ‘We’re the No. 1 defense in the NFL right now, in every statistical category. Why do you want me fired?’ ‘You don't blitz enough.’”
Gannon retorted to the criticism by supplying team stats in opposition to their demand. "We lead the league in sacks by 30-plus sacks, so if you want to come call the defense, then you can have at it,” added Gannon. “They have a job to do and I understand that.”
Jonathan Gannon: “Philly is a really tough market. We were 9-0 & they wanted me fired. We were the #1 def. in every category. Why do you want me fired? ‘Oh you don’t blitz enough.’ We led the league in sacks.. You wanna come call the defense? Have at it.” pic.twitter.com/KEbodniSnS
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) April 21, 2023
To Gannon’s credit, the Eagles defense recorded the most sacks (70) in the 2022 regular season, while also owning the league’s No. 1 pass defense (179.8 yards per game). Philadelphia also surrendered the seventh-fewest points per game (20.2).
Yet Gannon’s second and final season in Philly finished in poor form—his defense was last seen being torched by Andy Reid and the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. The Eagles scored the most points (35) by a losing team in a Super Bowl in NFL history, after allowing Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City to put up 38.
And after his tenure didn’t end as he planned, it’s clear there’s little love lost between the new Arizona coach and the Philadelphia media.
