Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has been fined $100,000 by the organization following a sideline altercation with player Emari Demercado. The incident occurred during the Cardinals’ narrow 22-21 defeat against the Tennessee Titans on March 31, 2024. The confrontation was sparked by a critical moment in the game, where Demercado appeared to score a touchdown only to lose possession before crossing the goal line, resulting in a fumble that granted the Titans possession.
In the fourth quarter, with 12:40 remaining, Demercado’s potential 72-yard touchdown run would have extended the Cardinals’ lead to 28-6. Instead, the Titans capitalized on the error, rallying to score 16 consecutive points and snapping their ten-game losing streak that dated back to the previous season.
Video footage of the sideline confrontation quickly circulated on social media, showing Gannon visibly upset and yelling at Demercado before appearing to gesture aggressively towards him. This incident has led to scrutiny of Gannon’s conduct as head coach.
According to a report by ESPN, the fine imposed on Gannon is not expected to be publicly acknowledged by the team. The National Football League (NFL) has reportedly been in discussions with the NFL Players Association regarding the incident, but no further disciplinary action against Gannon is anticipated.
Following the altercation, Gannon expressed regret, stating, “I woke up this morning and didn’t feel great about it, honestly.” He apologized to Demercado and acknowledged that he allowed his emotions to dictate his actions in that moment. Gannon emphasized the importance of maintaining composure as a leader, saying, “I try to be emotionally stable and calm because my job is to solve problems during a game and lead the charge on that.”
He reiterated that the incident was a mistake on his part, reflecting on how each individual on the team contributed to their loss. “It’s a mistake by me, and just like everybody in there, everybody made some type of mistake yesterday, which culminates to why we didn’t win the game, and we can’t let it happen moving forward,” he added.
The Cardinals currently hold a record of 2-3, having experienced three consecutive defeats, all decided by last-second field goals. This unique occurrence marks the first time in NFL history that a team has lost three straight games in this manner.
Gannon is in his third year as the head coach of the Cardinals, having previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. As the season progresses, Gannon and his team will be looking to regain their footing and avoid further missteps on the field.