Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham Has Fan in Jonathan Gannon

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham just got a pretty big nod of approval—and not from a Sun Devils booster or a Pac-12 analyst. Nope, it’s coming from across the valley, courtesy of Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Yes, that Jonathan Gannon. The NFL sideline general who’s busy trying to rebuild the Cardinals into a respectable franchise took a minute from his own football chaos to heap praise on the 34-year-old college coaching wunderkind. Turns out, Gannon is a fan—and he’s not afraid to say it.

“He’s high energy, smart, and knows how to relate to young guys,” Gannon said when asked about Dillingham. “You watch his team and you see a group that plays hard, plays fast, and believes in something. That’s coaching.”

Coming from an NFL head coach, that’s not just a compliment—it’s a potential career springboard. Dillingham, the youngest head coach in the FBS, has been turning heads since he took the reins at ASU. His blend of modern offense, youth-oriented leadership, and Arizona roots has injected new life into a program that’s been desperately seeking identity post-Herm Edwards.

Gannon’s admiration might also hint at something deeper: a philosophical kinship between two young, energetic coaches trying to build from the ground up. Both are tasked with reshaping their respective programs, both lean heavily into culture-building, and both aren’t afraid to take bold swings.

Dillingham has already shown he’s not here to coast. From recruiting battles to revamping ASU’s offense, he’s been all gas, no brakes. And with Gannon paying attention, it’s clear that his work is resonating beyond just Tempe.

Could this budding admiration lead to more collaboration between ASU and the Cardinals? Shared resources? Cross-program mentorship? Maybe even some friendly playbook borrowing? Stranger things have happened in the Arizona football ecosystem.

For now, it’s just one head coach recognizing another. But when NFL leaders start noticing what’s brewing on a college campus, it’s usually a sign that something special is cooking. And Kenny Dillingham, with all his hype and hustle, might just be Arizona’s next big football export.

Jonathan Gannon sees it. The Sun Devil faithful hope he’s right. And Kenny? Well, he’s just getting started.