Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Justin Frye against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
GLENDALE – New Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur has made some massive strides in filling up his staff, but not in the way many fans would of thought. LaFleur made a controversial decision in bring back third-year Arizona defensive coordinator Nick Rallis for the same role in his staff.
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Many fans were outraged by the decision because of the units production last season, but on Thursday an even more confusing hiring was made with offensive lineman coach Justin Frye returning to the Cardinals in 2026.
Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Justin Frye against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Frye returning to franchise in 2026:
The #Cardinals are expected to retain Justin Frye as offensive line coach under new coach Mike LaFleur, sources tell @CBSSports.
Was hired by Jonathan Gannon last year after three seasons as the offensive line coach at Ohio State. Now expected to remain in Arizona under LaFleur. pic.twitter.com/XSUmmBDuAH
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 13, 2026
Frye was brought in last season by former head coach Jonathan Gannon because previous offensive lineman coach Klayton Adams left for the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator job. Under Adams, the rushing attack was third and seventh in yards per game, stellar play by running back James Conner helped, but the offensive line was superb.
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive line coach Justin Frye arrives prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 2025.
While Adams leaving would hurt the team, Frye was a former Ohio State National Champion coach. The 42-year-old had all the tools to maintain that level of production, especially with Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing at the helm.
However, it was clear from Week 1 that this wasn’t the same running game. Injuries to running backs Trey Benson and Conner does lead to the massive decrease in yards, but the offensive line had completely devolved. From top 10 the past two years to being 31st in the league in yards per game.
The rushing attack wasn’t the only thing to take a hit, as the Cardinals were bottom five in sacks allowed with 59. In 2024, the pass protection was the complete opposite, top five in sacks allowed with 30. Injuries to the unit didn’t help, but it was clearly not the cause of the regression.
Arizona Cardinals new head coach Mike LaFleur at a news conference on Feb. 3, 2026, at Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe.
Despite all of those stats from going to top five in rushing yards and sacks allowed to bottom five, LaFleur is bringing back Frye. A healthy Benson and Conner will surely help make the numbers easier to look at, but the problems will need to be address in the draft and free agency to make Frye’s return make sense.
The saving grace of Cardinals retaining Nick Rallis as DC in 2026
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
