The Cardinals have fined head coach Jonathan Gannon $100,000 for a sideline incident with running back Emari Demercado after his costly fumble in Sunday’s loss to the Titans.
Demercado tossed the ball to the ground before crossing the goal line in what would have been a 72-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. If Demercado crossed the goal line, it would have given Arizona a 27–6 lead with 12:40 remaining. Instead, after the touchback, the Titans began a furious rally that ended with a 22–21 Tennessee win.
A video showed Gannon walking over to Demarco on the sideline and getting in his face before slapping his right arm as he walked away. News of Gannon’s fine was first reported by ESPN.
“We have been in contact with the NFLPA, and the club which addressed the matter,” the NFL said in a statement. “There is no further action from the league.” The NFLPA declined to comment Wednesday.
Gannon said he apologized to both Demercado and the team for his behavior during a team meeting on Monday.
“I just told them, I kind of let the moment of what happened get the better of me there,” Gannon said.
Gannon is the first head coach to be fined for a player altercation in three years, according to ESPN. Former Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians was fined $50,000 in January 2022 by the NFL for smacking safety Andrew Adams on the helmet during a playoff game against the Eagles.
