New Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon just went through his first NFL Draft as a head coach, and he made a move that seemed to rub fans and media members the wrong way during draft weekend when he passed up on a chance to speak to the media.
As staff writer Josh Weinfuss of ESPN points out, Jonathan Gannon did not speak to the media at any point during the three weekends of the NFL Draft. And as he points out, that’s pretty unusual for a coach. In fact, it’s something he has never experienced from a head coach before.
“Interesting move by the Cardinals during the draft: head coach Jonathan Gannon did not speak to the media after any of the three days. First time that’s happened, that I remember, in my 12 drafts,” Weinfuss said in a tweet on Sunday afternoon.
Interesting move by the Cardinals during the draft: head coach Jonathan Gannon did not speak to the media after any of three days.
First time that's happened, that I remember, in my 12 drafts.
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) April 29, 2023
Retired sports columnist Kent Somers, who worked for The Arizona Republic for decades, echoed those thoughts in a reply tweet, claiming that he does not remember a single draft that a head coach has not spoken to the media.
It’s quite a bold and controversial move from Gannon, and the NFL world absolutely roasted him for it.
Mid- and post-draft press conferences are easiest PR win of the year for a coach + GM. "We're so excited about these new players! Let me tell you why we love them!" Sell it to your fans. Big miss here for Gannon. https://t.co/GgnL8pUeCW
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) April 30, 2023
Good luck with this jackwagon, Arizona. https://t.co/Kq33TJWlvp
— Glen Macnow (@RealGlenMacnow) April 30, 2023
Gannon is going to be a problem, but his tenure is going to be short. https://t.co/VqbMajwlSY
— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) April 30, 2023
I live to see the Birds win a Super Bowl. I survive to watch the Jonathan Gannon downfall. https://t.co/71Zt843utE
— not matt (@PanasonicDX4500) April 29, 2023
Gannon is not off to a roaring start in Arizona. https://t.co/Y4ahcewWtI
— Tommy Lawlor (@lawlornfl) April 29, 2023
I just can’t believe Jonathan Gannon is off to such a rocky start as a HC. The hire seemed so full-proof. https://t.co/A6G8co7YcV
— Deniz Selman (@denizselman33) April 30, 2023
Gannon isn’t exactly establishing himself as one of the more likable coaches in the league.
