Cardinals fine head coach Jonathan Gannon $100K for sideline altercation; NFL will not take action

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The Arizona Cardinals have fined head coach Jonathan Gannon $100,000 for his sideline interaction with running back Emari Demercado during Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday.

Following an unforced fumble that negated a would-be 72-yard touchdown by Demercado, Gannon approached the running back, yelled in his face and then swiped his arm, appearing to contact Demercardo, video showed.

The NFL will not take any action against Gannon.

“We have been in contact with the NFL [Players Association], and the club which addressed the matter,” the league said in a statement obtained by Pelissero. “There is no further action from the league.”

Speaking to the media Monday, Gannon said he had apologized to Demercado and talked to the team about the incident.

“I woke up this morning and didn’t feel great about it, honestly,” the third-year head coach said. “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.”

Arizona held a 21-6 lead in the fourth quarter and Demercado could have increased the advantage to 27-6 had he not dropped the football prior to crossing the goal line. In the aftermath, the previously winless Titans rallied for a 22-21 win that led to the 2-3 Cardinals’ third straight loss.

Gannon, 42, was previously the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator before taking on his first NFL head coaching job with the Cardinals in 2023.

He has a 14-25 record through two-plus seasons entering a Week 6 game at the Indianapolis Colts.

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