The Arizona Cardinals recorded a lackluster 4-13 record last season. The team’s performance throughout the season was absolutely below-average. The franchise brought some changes to the front office, including hiring Jonathan Gannon as head coach after parting ways with Kliff Kingsbury.
The Cardinals front office was roasted days ago for showcasing their commitment to Kyler Murray, as history says they will do the opposite. Now, one of the former Cardinals front-office executives, Terry McDonough, has come to the limelight due to his legal battle.
Terry McDonough accused of physical violence against neighbor
Terry McDonough finds himself entangled in legal turmoil following accusations of physical violence against a neighbor. The incident, which allegedly occurred on March 12, has led to him facing simple assault charges with a court date set for April 11 in Mecklenburg County.
Court documents says McDonough’s neighbor reported an altercation where McDonough purportedly chest-bumped him before attempting to choke him. He did all while hurling obscenities and derogatory terms.
The altercation reportedly stemmed from an issue involving tractor equipment damaging McDonough’s lawn. The alleged victim, in a criminal affidavit, stated that McDonough exhibited a history of volatile behavior and cited his involvement in a previous high-profile case with the Cardinals. The victim and his family expressed feeling unsafe as a result of the incident.
Efforts by The Associated Press to reach McDonough for comment proved futile. It left the public with unanswered questions regarding his perspective on the allegations.
McDonough’s extensive career in the NFL includes notable stints with the Cardinals, where he spent a decade. He possessed a candidacy for the San Francisco 49ers’ general manager position in 2017, ultimately filled by John Lynch.
Why did Cardinals fire Terry McDonough?
In 2023, Terry McDonough’s tenure with the Cardinals came to an end when his contract was not renewed. This event marked the beginning of a legal dispute between McDonough and the team owner, Michael Bidwill. McDonough accused Bidwill of engaging in practices that had detrimental effects on his professional career.
One of McDonough’s main grievances was Bidwill’s alleged insistence on using burner phones to communicate with General Manager Steve Keim during Keim’s suspension for extreme DUI. McDonough claimed Bidwill pressured him and former head coach Steve Wilks to comply with this request, which ultimately led to strained relationships and negative repercussions for McDonough’s career.
McDonough further accused Bidwill of discriminatory practices. He specifically pointed out the dismissal of Wilks, who is black, as an instance of racial discrimination. McDonough asserted that Bidwill unfairly singled out Wilks, and he also highlighted other alleged instances of discriminatory behavior within the organization, particularly towards black employees and pregnant women.
In response to these allegations, Bidwill promptly denied any wrongdoing. He justified the decision to sever ties with McDonough by attributing it to McDonough’s “erratic behavior.” Bidwill referred to several instances of what the team described as “volatile behavior” on McDonough’s part. In his statement, Bidwill mentioned a particular incident involving a text exchange where McDonough apologized for a past brawl, indicating this as an example of McDonough’s damaging conduct.
