Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has been fined $100,000 by the organization following a heated sideline altercation with player Emari Demercado. The incident occurred during the Cardinals’ narrow 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans on October 15, 2023.
Demercado appeared to score a pivotal 72-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, which would have extended the Cardinals’ lead to 28-6 with 12:40 remaining in the game. However, he dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line, resulting in a fumble that was ruled out of the back of the end zone. This error allowed the Titans to regain possession at their own 20-yard line.
Following the play, a video surfaced on social media showing Gannon expressing his frustration directly to Demercado, appearing to jostle him while shouting. This moment of tension coincided with a turnaround for the Titans, who scored 16 consecutive points to secure their first victory in 11 games, breaking a losing streak that dated back to the previous season.
According to a report by ESPN, Gannon’s fine will not be publicly disclosed by the team. The NFL has been in communication with the NFL Players Association regarding the incident, but no further disciplinary action against Gannon is anticipated.
Reflecting on the situation, Gannon expressed regret, stating, “I woke up this morning and didn’t feel great about it, honestly.” He apologized to Demercado on the following Monday and acknowledged that he let the moment get the better of him. Gannon emphasized the importance of maintaining emotional stability and being a problem-solver during games.
“It’s not really who I am, who I want to be, and I told the guys that today,” he added. “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.”
The Cardinals, currently holding a record of 2-3, have suffered three consecutive losses, all decided by last-second field goals—a first in NFL history. Gannon, who is in his third year as head coach, joined the Cardinals after two successful seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
As the team moves forward, the focus will be on addressing the challenges that have led to their recent struggles and finding a way to turn their season around.
