The wind is suddenly at their backs. The sails are suddenly full. It feels like Cardinals football has finally escaped the doldrums.
There is apparent resolution to the long-running experiment at quarterback. Those afflicted with Kyler Murray fatigue and the accompanying seven-year itch feel instantly liberated. A new future is beckoning.
Credit Jonathan Gannon, who likely aged 10 coaching years in the span of eight games.
He entered the season with the pressure and expectations of bringing a playoff team to the Valley. He instead delivered a five-game losing streak, including arguably the worst regular-season loss in franchise history, a tragic performance against the Titans that was almost mythical in scope. During that game, an enraged Gannon physically confronted running back Emari Demercado on the sideline, earning a $100,000 fine from owner Michael Bidwill, a demanding type who hates to be embarrassed.
At the bye week, the Cardinals were 2-5. Jacoby Brissett was clearly outperforming Murray in every phase of the game. Gannon had already painted himself into a corner, having lavishly praised and defended Murray for two-plus years. He said strange and ambiguous things to get through press conferences, the kind of stuff that taxed his popularity and lowered his standing among Cardinals fans.
Away from the noise, he was coaching a football team that was still listening and still responding, a team clearly invigorated by their new quarterback. A team that delivered a dominant win over the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, giving the owner a moment of bliss and atonement.
Nearly 17 million people watched Arizona’s win over America’s Team, a victory that restored dignity and honor to the team logo. It gave Bidwill bragging rights over Jerry Jones, the owner who was stuck with the pangs of national embarrassment.
Gannon not only steered this team through the quarterback storm that had enveloped the city, ultimately leading to Brissett’s full-time promotion. That victory over the Cowboys likely bought his regime another year, minimum.
General manager Monti Ossenfort also deserves much credit for his contingency and succession planning at quarterback.
In three weeks, Jacoby Brissett has elevated the team, validated the offensive coordinator and won over the locker room. Because he’s the kind of quarterback that teammates love, the kind of quarterback who puts his body on the line on their behalf. It’s happened everywhere he’s been.
Ossenfort convinced Brissett to sign a two-year contract at a very friendly rate. Next year, he’ll be earning $7 million.
Brissett can mentor the next young quarterback drafted in Arizona, the way he mentored Drake Maye in New England, the way Brissett was once mentored by Tom Brady.
Many fans were concerned when Ossenfort put almost all of his money and resources on defense. But the plucking of Brissett to an affordable, multi-year contract might’ve been the best move of all. After all, it likely bought time for the entire regime; settled questions surrounding the diminutive Murray once and for all; and built a pathway to a new future at the game’s most important position, away from one of the most polarizing players in Valley history.
Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.