Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon appears to hit RB Emari Demercado after costly fumble vs. Titans

Shane Shoemaker

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Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon appears to hit RB Emari Demercado after costly fumble vs. Titans image

© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Arizona Cardinals’ Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans is still sending shockwaves through the NFL, but not only because of what happened on the scoreboard.

Running back Emari Demercado made one of the most infamous blunders in football: dropping the ball before crossing the goal line. His would-be 72-yard touchdown was wiped out after review showed he lost possession inches shy of the end zone. Instead of sealing a Cardinals win, it became a turnover that sparked a Titans rally.

Tennessee turned the mistake into points and stormed back from a 21-3 deficit to stun Arizona 22-21, in what Next Gen Stats rated as the second-most improbable comeback of the season.

Now, a new layer has been added to the controversy. A video surfaced that appears to show Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon chewing out Demercado on the sideline after the critical error — and even striking him in frustration.

Check out video below:

 

“I made a mistake. There’s really no excuse,” Demercado said, per Arizona Sports. “I was obviously emotional. It was a big play, but I just got to be smarter,” the running back added.

The incident has raised questions not only about Demercado’s future with the team but also about Gannon’s reaction in the heat of the moment. The three-year head coach was already facing scrutiny for the collapse, and his response toward the young running back is likely to draw even more attention.

Demercado, who was expected to take on a larger role with James Conner and Trey Benson both sidelined, saw limited action in the game before his long run. What should have been a career-defining play instead became one of the early season’s most talked-about mistakes. For Arizona, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Instead of grabbing a much-needed win, the Cardinals are left reeling from a major collapse.

To make matters worse, the gaffe overshadowed a defensive performance that should have sealed the victory. The Cardinals’ defense picked off Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward in the fourth quarter, only to fumble the return in the end zone, gifting another touchdown to Tennessee. By game’s end, Arizona had turned a commanding lead into a demoralizing defeat — with Demercado’s error serving as the turning point.

Whether Gannon’s sideline outburst was a moment of passion or a step too far, the spotlight now shines brighter on both him and Demercado. And for a Cardinals team already searching for answers, the fallout is only beginning.

Shane Shoemaker

Shane Shoemaker began his career as an editorial writer for ClutchPoints, covering college football, the NFL and MLB. His love for sports took off at age 5, when his dad began taking him all over the country to watch the Atlanta Braves and later, the Miami Hurricanes football team — fueling his passion for experiencing new stadiums. Although a lifelong Tennessean, he remains unaffiliated with local teams, even after writing for Vols Wire. Shane holds a BA in Communications/Journalism from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and never misses a chance to mention the Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series win.