The Arizona Cardinals were largely expected to be one of the worst teams, if not the worst team in the NFL in 2023. From his opening press conference, fans and media alike had a lot of doubts surrounding then rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon.
And while a 4-13 record may not instill confidence on the surface, the Cardinals showed a fight that few expected, and they had a lot of defensive intricacies that will be even more exciting to see in Year Two of Gannon’s regime. Kyler Murray being paired with Marvin Harrison Jr. also raises the level of excitement in Arizona.
Gannon still has a lot to prove, though, and his ranking at No. 27 in CBS’ preseason head coach rankings reflect that, but also note on the upside.
“His 2023 debut was predictably a mixed bag; a last-minute quarterback shuffle preceded a 1-8 start, but his group was unusually competitive, even with Kyler Murray fresh off ACL rehab, down the stretch,” Cody Benjamin wrote. “With a lineup still under construction, it's fair to wonder how far his Cardinals can leap in Year 2. His hard-nosed, sometimes-quirky leadership appears to be trending up, though.”
It still feels like the Cardinals are a year away from being playoff contenders, but it’s certainly possible they surprise the league and make a push for a wildcard spot in 2024.