Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon left reporters speechless with his response to a question during his team's press conference on Wednesday.
Gannon was asked how early did he have to start figuring out how to take the emotion out of coaching, and without hesitation, he responded, "2007, when our quarterback went to jail."
The room stayed silent until Gannon got up and left.
In 2007, Gannon was a defensive quality control coach for the Atlanta Falcons in the first year of his professional coaching career. Michael Vick was the starting quarterback at that time.
According to a timeline provided by Sporting News, Vick was charged in July 2007 for his involvement in operating a dogfighting ring at his Virginia home. The discovery was made when a search warrant was executed at Vick's residence as part of a drug investigation involving his cousin Davon Boddie two months prior.
Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges related to illegal dogfighting in Aug. 2007. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL shortly thereafter. Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison in Dec. 2007.
Gannon spent only one season with the Falcons.
The Cardinals fined Gannon $100,000 after a video captured his emotional outburst towards running back Emari Demercado for committing a turnover by dropping the football before crossing the goal line of the end zone for a touchdown. Gannon seemingly let his emotions get the better of him when he appeared to strike a clearly dejected Demercado.
Gannon said he addressed the incident at a team meeting where he apologized to Demercado and the rest of his players.
Cardinals star quarterback Kyler Murray issued apology last month after he posted a photo of himself wearing Vick's Virginia Tech jersey with his pit bull.