PHX Reporter

Jonathan Gannon, head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, shared his perspective on discipline over motivation during a conversation with veteran wide receiver Zay Jones on Christmas Eve. When asked if he was into "motivational things," Gannon replied, "No. I'm into discipline."

Gannon elaborated on his stance by stating, "Why I say that is motivation is fleeting. If your performance is based on motivation, you're going to go (up and down)." He emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline to ensure consistent performance, saying, "I think what I'm concerned about is, are we doing enough? Are we doing things the right way? Are we disciplined enough to stick to our process and make sure that it's good to maximize the opportunity to go out there to compete and win a game?"

Following the Cardinals' disappointing loss in Carolina and their subsequent elimination from playoff contention, there has been considerable discussion about Gannon's response. Despite the emotional reactions from fans, Gannon has consistently aimed to minimize emotional fluctuations regardless of wins or losses.

Reflecting on the remaining games of the season, Gannon expressed optimism: "I love that we're going to go play two games. You have two more opportunities. It's obviously not the outcome we wanted. We're not going to be playing in mid-January, but I'm excited for these two opportunities."

He acknowledged public sentiment but highlighted his focus on competition: "I understand how a lot of people think, but when you're in our seat, the joy is competition." Gannon also reflected on last year's experiences as valuable learning opportunities that contributed positively this season.