Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett raised some eyebrows this week with a rather bizarre quote about rookie running back Jeremiyah Love.
The Cardinals made Love the No. 3 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, suggesting the team has big plans for him from the start. Hackett, however, may have pumped the brakes on those expectations when asked about Love on Saturday.
“I mean, he’s definitely a rookie,” Hackett said. “He’ll keep growing every single day. Very excited for him. All those guys, not just him.”
#Cardinals OC Nathaniel Hackett
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) July 25, 2026
on whether he sees the RB room as having a starter: “I’m really excited about it. Excited for James [Conner] to get out there and show what he’s got. I mean, all the guys.”
on Jeremiyah Love’s progression: “I mean, he’s definitely a rookie” pic.twitter.com/YcVTBfkrMV
Hackett was also asked about the team’s starting running back, and he singled out running back James Conner as someone he was “excited” for.
Perhaps Hackett is trying to manage expectations for Love as a rookie, but that did not exactly sound like overwhelming praise. If anything, it would be easy to interpret as a needlessly negative critique of a young player in a public setting.
In spite of Hackett’s remarks, Love did practice with the starters on Sunday, and flashed a lot of promise in doing so.
Jeremiyah Love catch over the middle while working with the starters at Arizona Cardinals training camp @PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/cZbOudloFa
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) July 26, 2026
In all likelihood, the Cardinals will want to ease Love into the NFL and not raise expectations too high. Even if that is the case, his college tape combined with his draft position will make that very tough to do.
