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The 2025 season could turn out to be a pivotal one for the Arizona Cardinals. This will be Year 3 for head coach Jonathan Gannon, meaning the emphasis will be on him to prove that he is the right man to helm the Cardinals for the future this season.
Gannon, a former defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, is hoping that thanks to a lot of notable defensive additions over the last two seasons, one of their biggest issues will be fixed. However, nothing will attribute to the Cardinals’ success more than starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who is set to enter his seventh season in the NFL. Murray has more pressure than anyone in the building because if he doesn’t perform, he and Gannon both could be out of Arizona by next season.
Kyler Murray has reached a critical point in his NFL career. At 27 years old and now several years removed from his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign, he’s no longer the young quarterback with limitless potential — he’s the franchise cornerstone whose results haven’t matched the investment. Arizona committed to Murray in 2022 with a five-year, $230.5 million extension. Since then, the returns have been mixed at best.
Murray’s overall record as a starter — 36-45-1 — underscores the inconsistency that has plagued his tenure. While there have been moments of brilliance, the Cardinals have just one playoff appearance during his time under center. That lone postseason trip in 2021 ended in a lopsided Wild Card defeat that still hangs over Murray’s résumé.
Injuries haven’t helped. Murray has missed significant time over the past few seasons, including most of 2023 while recovering from a torn ACL. But availability is only part of the story. Murray has struggled to consistently elevate the offense or finish strong down the stretch of a season. Last year, the Cardinals teased a potential turnaround when they briefly led the NFC West in November — only to collapse with five losses in their final seven games.
With the roster now upgraded across the board, especially on defense, Arizona can no longer afford mediocrity at quarterback. As FanSided’s Romell Williams noted, “Murray now has the best supporting cast of his career.” That includes playmakers like Trey McBride and former first-round selection Marvin Harrison Jr. He also has new defensive additions like Walter Nolen and Will Johnson. In other words, the excuses are gone.
While all eyes are on Murray, Jonathan Gannon isn’t far behind. The pressure on the quarterback is compounded by what’s at stake for the man leading the sideline. Gannon is just 12-22 in his first two seasons and enters 2025 needing to show meaningful progress — especially with ownership spending aggressively to improve the team’s personnel.
Gannon was hired with the idea of reshaping the Cardinals into a physical, defense-first operation. He has taken steps in that direction, but his success ultimately...
