GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dear Cardinals fans,
That was better than expected right? It’s end the of another tough losing season, and I've got to give you credit for hanging in there. You’ve seen way too many of them over the years.
19 double-digit loss seasons since the team moved to Arizona. 36 seasons in the Valley, and the Cardinals have lost 10 or more games in more than half of them.
That’s not fun. But year in and year out, you make it fun. Loyal like the bird and passionate like the color red.
I know — most of the time, this franchise just makes you want to see red, but remember — seeing a Cardinals is supposed to be uplifting, and finally for the first time in years, this franchise is moving up.
"When we get our vision aligned, I think there is an opportunity for us to grow here," Ossenfort said during his introductory press conference last January.
The season started by getting rid of the old ways. The days of no accountability, poor report card grades and taking players' lunch money are gone. General Manager Monti Ossenfort quickly set a new tone in handling business.
"He's changing the culture and changing the process and the infrastructure and how the organization works," Cardinals offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum said last summer.
Especially when it comes to the draft.
"We were ready for it and we made the right moves when we did," Ossenfort said last spring when discussing his first draft as the Cardinals general manager.
11 different rookies started at least one game this season, and most of Ossenfort’s first draft class saw substantial playing time. He even traded for an astronaut in quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
Rookie first-round pick Paris Johnson Jr. didn’t miss a snap. That should have you flipping excited for the future.
Speaking of the future, there’s no debate. Greg Dortch should be on the roster next season. James Conner is close to going down as the greatest running back in Cardinals history. Second-year tight end Trey McBride is already in the team record books by setting the single-season mark for most receptions by a tight end. And Kyler Murray is their franchise quarterback.
"I've been convicted since I got here (about Murray)," Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on January 3.
It’s been really impressive watching Murray come back from the toughest challenge of his football life after tearing the ACL in his right knee in December 2022.
When it was his time to watch, learn and study — he did.
When it was time to pass the test — he did and then some.
Learning a new offense on the fly is hard. You saw those raw emotions after the losses, but there was no finger-pointing, only accountability. That’s what real leaders do.
He was patient. You don’t come in mid-season demanding things. You practice. You go to work. You get rid of old, bad habits. You get your team ready to play, balancing frustrations with real growth, then go find a way to win while playing one of the toughest schedules in the league.
Attitude reflects leadership, and Jonathan Gannon’s leadership was much needed.
"It's been a culture shock," Cardinals offensive lineman D.J. Humphries said during training camp. "It ain't even been no gradual shift, it's shock, either get with it or get going."
Despite the national media and Eagles fans mocking him every time he opened his mouth or did something a little different, Jonathan Gannon proved to be a man of his word.
"I won't say when you meet your best friend, but that type of, like, it was instant," Murray said about his relationship with his new head coach on January 3.
The players come first. There’s real value in that. You see it in the culture.
"That's what I love as a player," Cardinals safety Budda Baker said on January 4. "At the end of the day, we're kind of like a family."
You see in the play. It turns out that having the youngest staff in the league can still bring out your best. Phew Phew turned into real explosives.
Guys will run through a wall for him. This team weekly was outmanned and underfunded, yet this team weekly got off the bus with fire in their gut and played hard till the final whistle. And if you didn’t — you were gone.
You’ve seen bad Cardinals teams phone it in at the end of losing seasons. That doesn’t fly on this team.
"Monti and I talk about every person on the roster daily," Gannon said on January 4. "I know they know that I have their best interests and hopefully they know that we can make them a better player."
I'm not writing this promising the Cardinals have everything to be a playoff team next season. Stevie Wonder can see they need more talent. But the best part about sports — there’s always next year — and finally next year means a little bit more.
"When you win, you know, that will shut everybody up, so obviously this year, you know, I played half a season, you know, we'll get an opportunity to do it again next year," Murray said on January 3.
Buckle up and let it rip.
As always thanks for watching and following along this season.
Sincerely,
Cameron Cox, 12Sports…
PS — I’m looking forward to all our conversations, debates and mock drafts this offseason. So be sure to send me your thoughts on X (formerly known as Twitter): @CamCox12.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
12Sports on YouTube
Get the latest news and stories from 12Sports on the 12News YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe!