Since taking the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job, Jonathan Gannon has wasted no time filling out his staff. Gannon is looking for a staff with some experience, even reaching down to the college ranks to do so. According to multiple reports, Florida Gators co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney has accepted a defensive secondary coaching position with Gannon and the Cardinals. ESPN’s Chris Low was the first to report the news.
Toney spent one season in Florida and called the Gators’ defensive plays in 2022. He followed Florida head coach Billy Napier to Gainsville after spending four seasons working with Napier in Louisiana. He’s coached both safeties and outside linebackers during his college coaching career and appears poised to coach the former at the next level. Toney has no prior NFL coaching experience, nor does he appear to have ties to Gannon or his defensive coordinator, Nick Rallis.
Toney wasn’t the only assistant that Napier lost to the NFL on Wednesday. According to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports, the Cardinals are also expected to hire Florida tight ends coach William Peagler. ESPN reported that Peagler would also be joining Gannon’s staff in a yet-to-be-determined defensive role. Prior to Florida, Peagler most recently served as Michigan State’s running backs coach. He has no prior NFL coaching experience and will be transitioning to a defensive role.
It looks like Patrick Toney may not be the only Florida assistant headed to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals are also expected to hire Florida tight ends coach William Peagler, sources tell @on3sports.https://t.co/DlIXY67ten pic.twitter.com/A1Dx5yOnVV
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 22, 2023
Gannon is certainly taking some risks, as he gambles on two highly-touted college coaches to make the jump to the NFL.
[ESPN]
