Scout, quality control, positional coach, coordinator – these are all Jonathan Gannon’s titles for a still young but impressive NFL coaching career.
On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Denver time, the Broncos announced that they had completed their interview with Gannon.
The 39-year-old’s varied resume, as well as Philadelphia’s second-half efforts to earn a spot with the wild card, led the Eagles’ defensive coordinator to be interviewed for the Broncos head coach’s job on Wednesday in the area. Philadelphia. Connections with Denver general manager George Paton when they played together in Minnesota, where Gannon was assistant second coach, was also likely a factor.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni supported the coaching skills of Gannon, who traveled with Sirianni to Philadelphia from Indianapolis, where Gannon initially rose to prominence as the Colts cornerback coach in the 2018–20 season.
“I really believe in Jonathan Gannon, the kind of coach he is and the kind of person he is,” Sirianni told reporters last week ahead of Philadelphia’s playoff loss to Tampa Bay. “I have a lot of confidence in him and have so much faith in him and I believe in him for the job he can do as a football coach. I think he would be a great head football coach in the NFL. I just think he has all the intangible qualities, all the qualities that I think it takes to be a good head football coach.”
Gannon’s interview for the Broncos vacancy, created by Vic Fangio’s Jan. 9 firing, was sandwiched between his interview for the Texans post on Wednesday and a meeting with the Vikings scheduled for Thursday.
It’s a terrific turn for a freshman coordinator whose defense was shattered during the Eagles’ ugly 2-5 start. Apart from a crushing loss to Dallas in the regular season finale, Philadelphia lost 7-2 with the Eagles only 16.6 points per game.
Pro Bowl regular tackle Fletcher Cox, who spoke earlier this season about the lack of aggression in the Eagles’ defensive schemes, praised the midseason changes JG made that allowed the Eagles defense to change its fortunes.
“The way we moved some players was allowing good players to have a lot of one-on-one matches and just get in the way,” Cox said.
Cornerback Darius Slay, who had three interceptions this year as well as an 83-yard return for a touchdown in the Eagles’ 30–13 win over the Broncos in Week 10, echoed Cox’s sentiment.
“(Gannon) put me in the right position so I could play the way I wanted,” Slay said.
Prior to this time with the Colts and Vikings, where Gannon was assistant defensive coach from 2014 to 2017, he also worked with the Titans (defensive quality assurance), the Rams (college and professional scout) and the Falcons. He began his NFL career in Atlanta as a defensive quality control coach in 2007.
Eagles linebacker TJ Edwards praised Gannon’s football IQ. Edwards also described Gannon as a player-friendly coach who knows how to communicate effectively with players even when Philadelphia’s season was in free fall at the end of October.
“The one thing he did all year was amazing for us and helped us a lot was telling each group of positions and each position how they fit into the scheme,” Edwards said. “We never question why we do something… As a player, you want to know more about why things happen, and it’s rare for him to do it in a personable manner. He is very respected here, he trains a lot. He wants to train at a high level and at a high intensity.”
Under Gannon, the Eagles finished 2021 ninth in average passing yard allowed (107.9), 10th in average passing yard allowed (328.8), 11th in average passing yard allowed (220.9) and 18th. by average points allowed (22.6).
Gannon’s interview was the Broncos’ seventh. Prior to Wednesday, Paton and Co. spoke with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Green Bay offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, Green Bay quarterback coach/passing coordinator Luke Getsy, Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and defensive coordinator “Dallas” by Dan Quinn. Earlier in the day, the Broncos interviewed New England linebacker coach Jerod Mayo.
Denver also requested interviews with Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Binemi, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, all of whom are still coaching in the NFL playoffs.
