Cardinals Q&A: Jonathan Gannon talks about his pet peeves, JG-isms, and more
Arizona Cardinals first-year coach Jonathan Gannon recently took some time out of his schedule to visit with beat reporter and senior sportswriter Bob McManaman for a Question-and-Answer session. Here’s how it went:
Question: I hear you like to walk a lot or run a lot. Which is it?
Answer: I do not run. I cannot run. This is my second fake hip. My surgeon said, ‘Do not run or every 100 yards takes five years off your life.’ I can’t run. I walk a lot, though.
Q: And you walk with your coaching staff a lot, especially to weight rooms and gyms, correct?
A: This is the highest staff of work-out guys, which I kind of demanded. Healthy body, healthy mind, man.
Q: So, what happened with your hip?
A: I dislocated and broke it in college my freshman year (at Lousiville). I had it replaced, tried to play again, couldn’t play and started coaching. In 10 years, it kind of wore out on me … so I got that one ripped out and my new one’s been in since seven years ago. The surgeon said no tennis, no basketball, no running.
Q: What do you do for relaxation to get your mind off football?
A: Work out, play golf, Daddy daycare.
Q: Speaking of “Daddy Day Care,” let’s talk movies. What favorite sports movie do you identify with the most and why?
A: That’s a really good question. I would say all of them. I like all of them, man.
Q: How about “Rocky?”
A: Now see, my wife loves “Rocky.” Obviously, Italian.
Q: You named your son Rocky, didn’t you?
A: Rocco, actually. That was after Saint Rocco in Cleveland, the church. But no, about the movie thing, I take something from all of them, truthfully.
Q: Got it. OK, what are your three biggest pet peeves?
A: People not being on time. People having bad attitudes. That’s probably it.
Q: Just two? Interesting. In your opinion, what makes the ultimate NFL player, regardless of position?
A: Selflessness.
Q: Anything else?
A: No.
Q: Who was or is the NFL player you’ve come to respect the most?
A: God, too many to name. … From afar, probably Tom Brady. Just his production over that long of a time knowing that no one thought he was going to be what he was.
Q: Of all your colorful JG-isms, which one is the best go-to? Personally, I like, ‘Be where your feet are,’ but what about you?
A: With the team, when I watch the tape with them, it’s ‘There is a game going on.’ … That is one that they know. Like, when I see something not very smart, I’ll say on the tape, ‘There’s a game going on, man.’
Q: Meaning, ‘Let’s get it together?’
A: Yes.
Q: What’s your lamest one? Do you have a lame one or are they all …
A: No, I have nothing lame. It’s all made for Hollywood. C’mon, you know me.
Q: What are the core principles that go into making a good to great coach? What do you have to have?
A: Rage.
Q: That’s a principle. Do you have any principles, as in, plural?
A: Principles. Uh, no.
Q: What do you mean, rage?
A: You’ve got to have fire in your gut.
Q: You seemed to have really and quickly managed to earn the respect from your players. What does that mean to you and how did you do it?
A: I think it’s genuine, but I would say it’s because they know that I care about them. And my actions on a daily basis hopefully shows that.
Q: Speaking of that, you’re big on family, encouraging your players and coaching staff to be with their families when they don’t need to be around the team, to get home and spend time with them. I get it, but why?
A: Because I love ’em. Truthfully, if you said like, ‘Your family or this job,’ it would be my family. Truthfully. I don’t know what people would say, but …
Q: When will you know if you’ve succeeded here? What will it take for you to know that?
A: I don’t think about the future like that.
Q: Fair. The team made three big trades right before the third and final preseason game, all on the same day. What type of message does that send to your players and your fanbase?
A: That we’re always going to do what’s best for the team.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon on why he coaches, how he relaxes and more
