Arizona Cardinals fans have been through a whirlwind of drama throughout the 2026 NFL offseason.

Between the hiring of head coach Mike LeFleur and the recently resolved holdout of quarterback Jacoby Brissett, the struggling organization has continued to find itself amongst national headlines.

To make matters worse, the fanbase was disappointed to hear newly-hired offensive coordinator Nathan Hackett talk about the team’s 2026 first-round pick, running back Jeremyiah Love.

When asked about who could emerge as the starting running back last week, Hackett said he was excited to see the entire group in action, but gave a strange response about Love’s progress.

“He’s definitely a rookie,” Hackett stated. “He’ll keep growing every single day, and I’m really excited for [the entire running back room], not just him.”

While Hackett’s comments did not sound hopeful for Love’s chances to break out as a rookie, fans should be concerned for the future NFL star.

Examining the Cardinals’ RB Room With Love

Love, after an incredible stint with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, was regarded as the top running back in the most recent NFL Draft.

In his three seasons with the program, the 21-year-old ended his college journey with 2,882 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. Love’s final year with the Fighting Irish included him reaching over 1,300 rushing yards, which led to him being named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2025.

With plenty of hype surrounding his name before the 2026 NFL Draft, the question became how high Love would be drafted. To the surprise of many, the Cardinals would select the offensive weapon with the No. 3 pick, despite their roster containing multiple veterans in James Conner and Tyler Allgeier.

Hackett’s comments regarding Love, however, should not worry fans heading into his rookie season.

Over the past few seasons, we’ve seen plenty of first-round running backs join a crowded room. Detroit Lions’ star Jahmyr Gibbs is the perfect example, as he finished behind David Montgomery in rushing yards during his first season in 2023. Gibbs eventually took over the starting running back role this offseason, and the committee approach to the position allowed him to polish his game early in his career.

Now, with Love in a similar situation heading into his rookie season, it’s clear that the Cardinals envision him taking over the starting role in the near future. Pairing the talented playmaker with two veterans in Allgeier and Conner will not only help his development, but also extend his time in the NFL by putting less mileage on him early in his career.