Jonathan Gannon named Arizona Cardinals head coach
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Another Eagles coordinator is on the move following their Super Bowl LVII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was named the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday. The news comes hours after offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was named the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
Welcome to the Valley, Coach!
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 14, 2023
We’ve agreed to terms with Jonathan Gannon to become our next head coach! pic.twitter.com/jDp9MezorO
According to NFL Research, the Eagles are the first Super Bowl team to lose both coordinators to head coaching jobs since the 1994 San Francisco 49ers.
The Eagles tweeted after the news became official, and thanked Gannon for his two years with the team.
Thank you, Coach Gannon. Wishing you the best in Arizona!#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/14QYlNMq2k
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 14, 2023
Gannon was a controversial coach during his two years in Philadelphia. His defense was a lightning rod for criticism by the team's fanbase, despite the unit putting up historic numbers, including recording the most sacks by a team in franchise history and having four players with double-digit sacks for the first time in NFL history.
Gannon's defense didn't have a good outing in the Super Bowl vs. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense. They didn't record a sack all game and allowed Kansas City to score on every possession in the second-half.
In the regular season, the Eagles' defense allowed the second-fewest yards per game, only trailing the 49ers. They also ranked tied for fourth in total takeaways.
The Eagles ranked sixth in total defensive Defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) during the regular season as well.
Along with the Cardinals, Gannon interviewed for the Houston Texans head coaching job, but they elected the hire Niners defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
Following the 2021 season, Gannon interviewed with the Texans, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings for the head coach openings.
Gannon came to Philadelphia in 2021 with head coach Nick Sirianni after serving as the defensive backs coach of the Colts.
Before that, he held different roles on the defensive side of the ball with the Vikings, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. Gannon also coached in college as a student and graduate assistant at the University of Louisville. He played college football at the school until he suffered a career-ending injury.
It remains unknown who the Eagles will hire to replace Gannon. It's a late in the process to hire a coach from a different team. By this point, most coaching staffs are set and ready to go for the upcoming the season.
It looked like the Eagles might've hired long-time NFL defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who consulted the team before the Super Bowl and was around the squad in the preseason, but he took the same job with the Miami Dolphins.
The Eagles could look to promote to in-house options in defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson and defensive line coach Tracy Rocker.