The Cardinals are losing games and losing the discipline they had built under Jonathan Gannon

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals were not the NFL's most talented team during the second year of coach Jonathan Gannon's tenure, but they were among the most disciplined, committing the league's second-fewest penalties in 2024.

Their mantra was simple: Be accountable. Don't beat yourself.

Arizona finished with an 8-9 record and it felt like things were moving in the right direction. So when the Cardinals got an influx of talent during the offseason, the idea was that better players — combined with the team's established culture of discipline — would lead the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

Obviously, things haven't gone according to plan.

In a second straight embarrassing loss to an NFC West rival, the Cardinals fell to the 49ers 41-22 on Sunday and committed a franchise-high 17 penalties, breaking a team record that was set in 1936. No other NFL team has been flagged that many times this season.

There were illegal shifts, holding calls, false starts and even a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting the Niners' long snapper in the head.

It was a stunning lack of discipline for a team that prides itself on accountability. These days, the Cardinals (3-7) aren't just losing games — they're losing their identity.

A defiant Gannon said Monday that they will get it back quickly.

His job security might depend on it.

“Not a controllable for me,” Gannon said. “I didn't hire myself, I'm not going to fire myself. Seriously, I know it comes up. That's the business we're in. If you don't want to be in that business — we laugh, we joke, ‘Go work somewhere else.’ I'm going to control the controllables for myself.

“I come to work, do the best job I can and try to get our team in position to win a game.”

Jacoby Brissett completed an NFL-record 47 passes on Sunday in 57 attempts. He finished with 452 yards passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sure, those numbers were inflated because the 49ers were nursing a big lead for much of the game, but Brissett is doing a lot of things right. He started his fifth game in a row on Sunday in place of Kyler Murray, who is dealing with a foot injury.

Brissett has thrown for 1,570 yards, 10 TDs and three interceptions over five starts, but the Cardinals are 1-4 in those games.

The veteran said Sunday he would have rather thrown for 3 yards in a win than have 452 in a loss. He added that the team is simply making too many mistakes.

“It’s like a stain,” Brissett said. “You try putting baking soda on it, you try putting club soda on it, you try washing it — you have to figure something out. It’s the mindset of not quitting on the process and not quitting on the idea that we can clean it up.”

The Cardinals have allowed more than 40 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2002.

Their defense — which was supposed to be a strength — appears to be regressing. Arizona's offense and special teams haven't helped the cause with some ill-timed mistakes, but Gannon said the defense has to figure out a way to stay strong in those moments.

“We’re losing the ball,” Gannon said. “We’re giving short fields up. We get people behind the sticks and we don’t win third down. We get in the red zone (and) we don’t make them kick field goals. That’s a recipe to give up a lot of points.”

Michael Wilson was the team’s top receiver vs. the 49ers since Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) was out. The third-year player responded with the best game of his career, catching 15 passes for 185 yards.

Special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers has been a mainstay for nearly a decade, spanning three coaching staffs. His units usually perform admirably, but Sunday wasn't their best day.

San Francisco's Skyy Moore took the opening kickoff 98 yards to the 1-yard line, helping give the 49ers a 7-0 lead 16 seconds into the game. The Cardinals also gave up a 42-yard kick return.

Murray has to miss at least two more games while on injured reserve. CB Garrett Williams (shin), RB Emari Demercado (ankle) and OL Kelvin Beachum (groin) were hurt Sunday and didn't return.

3-13 — The Cardinals' record vs. NFC West rivals in Gannon's 2 1/2 seasons.

The Cardinals host the Jaguars on Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) catches a touchdown pass in front of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (27) during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter, bottom, is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, top, and safety Ji'Ayir Brown during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, left, reacts as referee Carl Cheffers gestures during the second half of an NFL football game between the Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday was presenting medals to the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees during an event in the Oval Office.

This year's recipients are actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford.

Trump ignored the Kennedy Center and its premier awards program during his first term as president. But the Republican instituted a series of changes since returning to office in January, most notably ousting its board of trustees and replacing them with GOP supporters who voted him in as chairman.

Trump also has criticized the center's programming and its physical appearance, and vowed to overhaul both.

The president will present a new medal that was designed, created and donated by jeweler Tiffany & Co., according to the Kennedy Center. It's a gold disc etched on one side with the Kennedy Center's image and rainbow colors. The honoree's name appears on the reverse side with the date of the ceremony. The medallion hangs from a navy blue ribbon and replaces a large rainbow ribbon decorated with three gold plates that rested on the honoree's shoulders and chest.

The president said in August that he was “about 98% involved” in choosing the 2025 honorees when he personally announced them at the Kennedy Center, the first slate chosen under his leadership. The honorees traditionally had been announced by press release.

It was unclear how they were chosen. Before Trump, it fell to a bipartisan selection committee.

Later Saturday, after the Oval Office event, Trump was scheduled to attend an annual State Department dinner for the honorees. In years past, the honorees would receive their medallions at the dinner but Trump has moved the ceremony to the White House.

Meanwhile, the glitzy Kennedy Center Honors program and its series of tribute performances for each recipient is set to be taped on Sunday at the performing arts center for broadcast later in December on CBS and Paramount+. Trump is to attend the program for the first time as president, accompanied by his wife, first lady Melania Trump.

The president said in August that he would host the show, but the White House has not characterized his level of participation. Presidents traditionally attend the program and sit with the honorees in the audience. None has ever served as host.

“I’ve been asked to host. I said, ‘I’m the president of the United States. Are you fools asking me to do that?'” Trump said back then. “And then Susie Wiles said to me, ‘Sir, I’d like you to host.' I said, OK, Susie, I’ll do it,” Trump said, referring to his White House chief of staff.

Trump spent several hours at the Kennedy Center on Friday. He participated in the FIFA World Cup draw for 2026 and accepted its inaugural peace prize. Trump also met in a group with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.

FILE - The Hall of Nations at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Nov. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, file)

Kiss band member Gene Simmons speaks to members of the media at the White House, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

President Donald Trump speaks before a concert by Andrea Bocelli in the East Room of the White House walking towards the East Room, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)