Cardinals Retain OL Coach Justin Frye Despite 2025 Struggles - Here's Why That Matters
GLENDALE - New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is wasting no time shaping his staff, but his latest moves are turning heads - and not necessarily in celebration. After already making waves by retaining defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, LaFleur doubled down on continuity by bringing back offensive line coach Justin Frye for the 2026 season.
It’s a decision that’s raised more than a few eyebrows in Arizona, especially after the offensive line’s sharp decline last year. But let’s break it down - because while the optics might be rough, there’s more to this than just numbers on a stat sheet.
Frye’s Return: A Vote of Confidence or a Risky Roll of the Dice?
Frye was originally hired by former head coach Jonathan Gannon in 2025, stepping in after Klayton Adams left to become the offensive coordinator in Dallas. Adams had helped engineer a dominant ground game in Arizona, with the Cardinals ranking third and seventh in rushing yards per game during his tenure. That success wasn’t just about James Conner running wild - the offensive line was a major part of the engine.
Enter Frye, who came in with a strong résumé, including a successful stint at Ohio State. On paper, he had the pedigree. But once the season kicked off, things didn’t go according to plan.
A Steep Drop-Off in Production
From the opening weeks, it was clear this wasn’t the same Cardinals rushing attack. Injuries certainly played a role - both Trey Benson and Conner missed time - but the issues ran deeper than just missing personnel.
The offensive line, which had been a strength, looked disjointed and inconsistent. The result?
Arizona plummeted from a top-10 rushing offense to 31st in the league in yards per game.
And it wasn’t just the ground game that suffered. The protection up front collapsed as well.
In 2025, the Cardinals gave up 59 sacks - bottom five in the NFL. That’s nearly double the 30 sacks allowed in 2024, when they were among the league’s best in pass protection.
Injuries on the line didn’t help, but the regression was too steep to ignore.
Why LaFleur Is Betting on Frye
So why is Frye getting another shot? That’s the million-dollar question - and the answer likely lies in LaFleur’s long-term vision.
Bringing back a coach after such a tough season suggests LaFleur sees something in Frye’s approach that didn’t show up on the field in 2025. Maybe it’s his teaching style, his familiarity with the current personnel, or a belief that injuries and instability skewed the results more than fans realize.
It’s also worth noting that a healthy Conner and Benson could dramatically change the outlook. The Cardinals’ offense was hamstrung by injuries last year, and LaFleur may believe that a more stable lineup - paired with offseason reinforcements - can get Frye’s unit back on track.
What Comes Next
If Frye is going to justify this second chance, the Cardinals will need to invest in the trenches. That means targeting offensive line help in both the draft and free agency. Depth was a problem in 2025, and Arizona can’t afford to get caught short again.
This isn’t a blind leap of faith by LaFleur - it’s a calculated move. But it comes with risk. The offensive line’s struggles were a major factor in Arizona’s offensive woes last season, and if things don’t improve quickly, questions about Frye’s return won’t go away.
Still, LaFleur is clearly building a staff with a mix of familiarity and trust. He’s betting that with the right pieces in place, Frye can help restore the Cardinals’ offensive identity. Now it’s up to the front office to give him the tools to make it happen - and for Frye to prove that last year was an outlier, not the start of a trend.