Jonathan Gannon is leaving his job as defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles to become the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. In the process, his Eagles departure and Cardinals arrival have a few things in common from the popular comedy series “The Office”.

The Arizona Cardinals are facing a major shake-up at almost every position. After a disappointing season (4-13, fourth in the NFC West) under coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim, both jobs have been filled. The new general manager Monti Ossenfort looked at many candidates, the press expected an experienced head coach, who should be able to adjust the moody quarterback Kyler Murray.

But instead of Dan Quinn, Sean Payton or the traded Brian Flores, it was Jonathan Gannon who will take over the post as head coach for the first time. The 40-year-old is leaving the Philadelphia Eagles after two years as defensive coordinator, though the franchise reportedly offered him more salary for the DC job than the Cardinals did for the HC job.

Eagles defense in Super Bowl: Gannon and the Jesus comparison

And even though the Eagles defense got significantly better under Gannon, some doubt the quality of the father of three. In 2020, the Eagles defense allowed over 26 points per game, which was below average. In 2022, it was just shy of 20 points, ranking second among all NFL defenses alone. In addition, the 78 quarterback sacks were the third most in an NFL season.

Nevertheless, the Eagles lost the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35, even though they held a ten-point lead at one point before the Gannon defence allowed 24 points in the second half. The coach himself takes complete responsibility for that: “I’ve got to do a better job of putting guys in position to show what they’ve got. I misread Mahomes in parts and called plays that even Jesus Christ couldn’t have defended. “

Gannon words turn out to be untrue

Such words show strength. Fans respect when a coach takes responsibility. But how valuable are Gannon’s words?

Eagles fans haven’t forgotten his comment after the championship game win over the San Francisco 49ers when he said into a camera after the final whistle, “Philly’s going to keep me. Whether that’s good or bad, but I’m staying here. “

Jonathan Gannon to @BrelandFOX29 after the game.

“Philly is keeping me. Good bad or indifferent I’m staying here.” pic.twitter.com/TCaK5bQIGy

– David Grzybowski (@DavidGrzyTV) January 29, 2023

Not even two weeks and a few days after missing the Super Bowl, it’s already official: Gannon is signing a five-year contract with the Cardinals. He’s also taking Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis with him to the Cardinals. Rallis will become defensive coordinator there. In short: He takes the responsibility for the SB failure upon himself, leaves the Eagles despite a declaration of loyalty and takes another established coach with him. They won’t build a monument to him in Philly.

And whether he can get a quarterback like Kyler Murray back on track with the Cardinals as an inexperienced, defensive-minded head coach is questionable. Not only because Murray’s cruciate ligament injury will keep him out for a long time. But Gannon shines again with words, “If Murray wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be either. “

Jonathan Gannon is ready to work with Kyler

h/t @peter_king pic.twitter.com/pQlaN5PWFD

– FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 21, 2023

To make the connection with Murray quickly, Gannon brought Drew Petzing into the Cardinals fold as offensive coordinator. Petzing is 35 years old and previously spent just one year as quarterbacks coach with the Cleveland Browns. In addition to Jacoby Brissett, Petzing works closely with Deshaun Watson, who has been the subject of countless controversies in recent years.

Cardinals meets “The Office”: Jonathan Gannon aka Michael Scott

For many heroes of the internet, the Gannon storyline has something of the popular comedy series “The Office” in which Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) amuses as an office boss with sarcasm, a sense of humour all his own, awkward moments and double entendres. But the shop runs at the end. Just the way Gannon greeted the Cardinals players when he took office was compared to this on the net.

a players’ coach. pic.twitter.com/NJskadwOe7

– Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 17, 2023

The big shakeup coupled with Gannon’s strong but unreliable statements offer a lot of speculation potential on the Cardinals season ahead. Anything from a meme-fest in the best Carroll fashion to the beginning of a new, more successful era seems possible.