As Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort prepare for a crucial third-season matchup, the Arizona Cardinals emerge from the ashes.

The Arizona Cardinals have spent the past two seasons chiseling away at the foundation of a rebuild that, at times, has looked more like a demolition. But as head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort enter their pivotal third season together, the franchise appears to be rising—slowly but surely—from the ashes. What once looked like another lost chapter in the Cardinals’ uneven history is now being reframed as the opening act of a potentially transformative era in the desert.

Arizona’s roster is younger, faster, and infused with new energy. Gannon’s defensive imprint is beginning to materialize, while Ossenfort’s draft capital maneuvers have positioned the team to make sustainable gains. With their 2024 NFL Draft class already drawing national praise, the upcoming season isn’t just another step in the process—it’s a defining moment that could either validate or unravel everything this duo has constructed since being hired in 2023.

When Gannon and Ossenfort took over the Cardinals, they inherited a franchise in disarray. The end of the Kliff Kingsbury-Kyler Murray era was marred by dysfunction, inconsistency, and unmet expectations. Gannon, a defensive-minded leader fresh off a Super Bowl appearance as the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator, brought a culture shift grounded in toughness, clarity, and accountability.

Ossenfort, meanwhile, arrived from the Tennessee Titans with a vision built on smart scouting, value-based roster construction, and long-term flexibility. Together, they committed to reshaping a locker room that had become fragmented, stripping the team down to its studs in 2023 with an eye on 2024 and beyond.

The result of that first season was painful but productive: a 4-13 campaign that belied the grit and growth on the field. Despite their record, Arizona played with heart, knocking off playoff contenders and showing week-to-week improvement. More importantly, the franchise emerged with clarity—knowing exactly who fit the long-term plan and who didn’t.

No single figure will define the Cardinals’ 2025 season more than Kyler Murray. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick returned midseason in 2024 from a torn ACL, reentering a locker room that had changed significantly in his absence. Instead of being the team’s unquestioned centerpiece, Murray now had to prove he could adapt to Gannon’s culture and Ossenfort’s vision.

To his credit, he did just that. Murray looked more mature, both in his press conferences and in his decision-making on the field. Gone were the unnecessary heroics and occasional sideline spats. In their place was a quarterback eager to run the offense, protect the football, and lean into leadership. Though his physical gifts remain elite—his quickness, arm strength, and creativity are still jaw-dropping—Murray showed he could operate within a structure.

With a full offseason to continue building chemistry with new weapons and a refined playbook under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, Murray’s 2025 campaign has the potential to be his most complete season yet. If he can take the leap from good to great, the Cardinals could quickly vault into the NFC playoff conversation.

Monti Ossenfort’s defining moment as general manager may have come in April 2024. Armed with multiple high draft picks thanks to savvy trades—including the blockbuster deal involving the Houston Texans in 2023—Ossenfort entered the draft with firepower. He used it wisely.

The crown jewel was wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the Ohio State superstar many considered the most pro-ready receiver to enter the league since Julio Jones. Landing Harrison Jr. not only gave Murray a true WR1 but also sent a message: the Cardinals were ready to win.

Arizona followed that move by bolstering the trenches—selecting offensive linemen who fit the team’s new physical identity and adding defenders with versatility and speed. By the time the draft wrapped, pundits were hailing Arizona’s class as one of the best in the NFL.

Even more impressive than the talent itself was the cohesion. Ossenfort and Gannon had clearly built a shared philosophy. Every player drafted made sense. Every pick had purpose. For a franchise once defined by disjointed front-office decisions, this newfound synergy was as refreshing as it was necessary.

Jonathan Gannon took plenty of heat for his fiery, sometimes awkward introduction as Arizona’s head coach. But behind the scenes, players consistently praised his honesty and intensity. He’s not flashy—he’s focused. And now, his vision is taking hold.

Gannon’s defense, once plagued by missed tackles and mental lapses, has begun to forge an identity around aggression, discipline, and adaptability. Young playmakers like linebacker BJ Ojulari, cornerback Garrett Williams, and safety Budda Baker are thriving in Gannon’s system, which emphasizes communication and attacking the ball.

Perhaps most promising is the defensive line, a unit Ossenfort targeted in free agency and the draft. Arizona is finally showing signs of developing a disruptive front capable of controlling games. Gannon has said repeatedly that championship teams are built from the inside out—and in Year 3, his roster finally reflects that.

While much of the national attention is on Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr., the Cardinals’ offense is deeper than it’s been in years. Running back James Conner remains a bruising, reliable presence, but the team also added speed and youth in the backfield to spell him. Tight end Trey McBride emerged in 2024 as a breakout weapon, giving Arizona a legitimate chain-moving threat over the middle.

The offensive line—long a weak spot—has been fortified through the draft and development. Paris Johnson Jr., Arizona’s 2023 first-round pick, is now anchoring the line with growing confidence. The unit is still young, but it’s trending in the right direction.

Crucially, Petzing has shown an ability to adapt his play-calling to Murray’s strengths. The Cardinals don’t need to be a top-five offense this season, but they need to be efficient, explosive, and mistake-free. That’s the next step.

The Cardinals’ 2025 schedule isn’t easy. They’ll face a tough NFC West slate that includes a reloaded 49ers team, a Seahawks squad rebuilding around a new quarterback, and a Rams group still led by Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. Out of division, the Cardinals face the likes of the Cowboys, Bills, and Packers.

But the NFL is rarely about the totality of the schedule—it’s about momentum, identity, and seizing opportunities. If Arizona can start fast, build confidence, and stay healthy, they’ll be in the hunt.

Gannon and Ossenfort know this. That’s why Year 3 feels so crucial. It’s not just another rebuilding year—it’s a proving ground.

There’s a calm now in Arizona that didn’t exist during the late Kingsbury era. Gannon has brought structure. Ossenfort has brought order. There are no headlines about feuds, leaked texts, or culture breakdowns. Players talk about accountability. Coaches talk about execution. The Cardinals are finally operating like a grown-up NFL franchise.

Still, culture is fragile. One losing streak, one locker-room fracture, and the foundation can wobble. That’s why the leadership of veterans like Budda Baker, James Conner, and DJ Humphries—if he returns healthy—is so vital. The Cardinals are young, but they’re no longer naive. They understand what’s at stake.

For some franchises, success is Super Bowl or bust. For the Arizona Cardinals in 2025, success is measured differently. A winning season, a playoff berth, or even meaningful December football would represent a huge step forward.

More than anything, Arizona needs clarity. Is Kyler Murray the long-term answer? Is Gannon the right man to lead? Is the talent pipeline from Ossenfort deep enough to compete in the NFC? These are the questions that must be answered this season.

If they are, the Cardinals will go from a rebuilding project to a legitimate playoff team. If they aren’t, the organization may face another round of soul-searching—and potentially a new direction.

Cardinals fans have been through it all—false dawns, injury curses, quarterback controversies, and playoff heartbreak. But there’s a cautious optimism in the Valley heading into 2025. The team is young, hungry, and finally looks like it has a plan. That’s something that can’t be faked—and something fans are ready to believe in.

Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort didn’t take shortcuts. They took the long road. They absorbed the criticism, stayed patient, and built the right way. Now, in their third season, they’ll find out whether the foundation is strong enough to support something lasting.

The ashes of the past have finally cooled. The future of the Cardinals is ready to burn bright.