Jonathan Gannon has never wavered. Not about his quarterback, or about his offensive coordinator.
A day after the Cardinals’ season closed with big win over the 49ers to finish with an 8-9 record, the head coach was definitive about what he said about Kyler Murray after Murray’s sixth NFL season and first full season with this coaching staff.
“He’s a top-level, franchise quarterback,” Gannon said, noting he does not think Murray has hit his ceiling. Gannon later said on Arizona Sports that Murray will “100 percent” be the team’s signal-caller in 2025.
Barring something unforeseen, Drew Petzing will continue to be the guy dialing up Murray’s plays. A report came out Monday morning that the Bears have reached out to set up a head coaching interview with Petzing, although he will be one of many to whom the team will interview.
“I’m excited for Drew,” Gannon said. “The people that know, know.”
“He knows how to teach, he’s got really good command, he can get the best out of people, he’s extremely intelligent, and I think he knows what’s going on,” Gannon added. “He’s had some good experiences, around a lot of good guys — I’m probably not one of them — and he’s been trained the right way. He’s got a growth mindset, he knows where he is strong and where he needs help. I think he’d do a really good job.”
Gannon did say he is always considering who he might bring in to replace coaches on staff who could leave. He said he thinks there are multiple assistants that could eventually become head coaches.
He’s hoping it’s not Petzing yet, because this is the offense he feels is perfect for Murray.
“It’s tailor fit for him,” Gannon said. “It’s one of the reasons I hired Drew. I knew that was the guy I wanted to play with, and I wanted the system fit in my mind what his skillset was and is, and will grow and continue to develop.”
“You list the playoff teams and the quarterbacks of the playoff teams and I told (Kyler) and I believe this, what’s the common denominator of the quarterbacks in the playoffs?” Gannon added. “You can list all these different things right? I’ll make it easy on you. It’s good teams. We have to do everything we can to support him and put a good team around him.”
