Following a tense player-coach altercation and a stunning loss in Week 5, the Arizona Cardinals have decided on internal repercussions.
The Cardinals have reportedly fined head coach Jonathan Gannon $100,000 for his actions toward running back Emari Demercado on Sunday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The heated sideline conversation took place after Demercado tossed the ball away for an unforced fumble mere inches before the endzone in what ended up as a 22-21 loss for the Cardinals against the Tennessee Titans.
After the fumble, videos began circulating on social media showing Gannon yelling in Demercado’s face before swiping his arm downward, appearing to jostle Demercado.
The Arizona head coach acknowledged the moment during his presser on Monday, apologizing for his actions.
“I woke up this morning and didn't feel great about it, honestly,” Gannon told reporters. “So in the team meeting, I addressed it, I apologized to Emari, apologized to the team. I just told them I let the moment of what happened get the better of me.”
Demercado looked like he had a 72-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that would have increased the Cardinals' lead to 28-6. Instead, he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line, and the play was ruled a fumble out of the back of the end zone, which gave the Titans possession at their 20.
Tennessee eventually rallied for 16 straight points and snapped a 10-game losing streak dating to last season. Gannon said Demercado wouldn't face any punishment for his mistake.
“I try to be emotionally stable and calm because my job is to solve problems during the game,” Gannon said. “It's not really who I am, who I want to be, and I told the guys that today. So it's a mistake by me.”
Gannon becomes the first NFL head coach to be fined for an altercation with a player since the league fined former Tampa Bay Buccaneers sideline boss Bruce Arians $50,000 for swiping his hand at safety Jamal Adams' helmet during a playoff game in January 2022.
The Cardinals (2-3) have dropped three straight games, all on last-second field goals, in what's Gannon's third season at the helm. That's the first time in NFL history that's happened, according to Sportradar.
Arizona returns to action on Sunday to take on the 4-1 Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 action.
— with files from the Associated Press
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