Arizona Cardinals Fine Coach Jonathan Gannon $100,000 After Sideline Altercation

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was fined $100,000 following a heated sideline altercation with running back Emari Demercado during a loss to the Tennessee Titans, marking the first NFL head coach fine for a player altercation since 2022. The incident occurred after Demercado fumbled just before scoring a touchdown that would have given the Cardinals a commanding lead; Gannon was seen shouting and making physical contact with Demercado, which sparked a social media frenzy. Gannon apologized, admitting he let the moment get the better of him and expressed regret for his behavior, confirming no further discipline will be administered by the NFL. The NFL Players Association is reportedly investigating the incident, while the Cardinals organization and fans have expressed mixed reactions, with some criticizing the fine and others highlighting the emotional toll on the team. The Cardinals have struggled this season, falling to a 2-3 record after this dramatic fourth-quarter collapse, which was partly triggered by Demercado's mistake. This confrontation has added to the team's challenges and public relations issues amid their ongoing rebuild.