Nathaniel Hackett is hoping his rookie running back can hack it before making any bold proclamations about him.
The Arizona Cardinals eschewed the infamous “running backs don’t matter” narrative in April when they selected Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While Love is expected to be an impact player at the next level, the new Cardinals offensive coordinator is pumping the brakes.
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Speaking with media on July 25, Hackett made it clear that there’s still a learning curve for Love to endure given his neophyte standing.
“I mean, he’s definitely a rookie, as we’ve talked about,” Hackett said. “And he’ll keep growing every single day, I’m very excited for him – all those guys, not just him.”
Interestingly, when asked about the state of the running back room, the first name that came to mind wasn’t Love, but another veteran back on the roster.
“I’m excited for James (Conner) to get out there and show what he’s got, I mean, all the guys,” Hackett said. “Right now, we’re trying to work on that operation, we’re trying to make sure we’re crisp, we’re clean, and we’ve got a great play style.”
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While some may view Hackett’s comments as throwing cold water on Love, the running back should still factor into the offense’s plans in a big way given his draft position and Mike LaFleur’s roots in the Mike Shanahan offense.
Shanahan-based offenses focus on a strong running game as a staple of its playbook, with a strong running game the emphasis on game days.
Hackett gets his next chance as an offensive coordinator after a failed two-year stint with the New York Jets (2023-24), during which he was reunited with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, who won two MVPs under Hackett’s coaching in 2020 and 2021, has been vocally supportive of the coach.
Coincidentally, Hackett replaced LaFleur as Jets offensive coordinator in New York after the latter had two middling seasons as Jets OC under Robert Saleh in 2021 and 2022.
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Under Hackett, then second-year Jets running back Breece Hall tallied 9 total touchdowns and set a career high in scrimmage yards with 1,585 in 2023. That may provide something of a blueprint for Love moving forward.
Regardless of what Hackett says now, Love’s training camp standing and preseason usage may provide some more clarity into the running back’s role in the offense.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cardinals OC has puzzling quote on Jeremiyah Love: ‘He’s definitely a rookie’
