“Being consistent. For me, that’s a word that’s going to be a big word for not only me but this offence this season. Be consistent”.

That’s what Kyler Murray told team reporter Dani Sureck when asked about what a prime Kyler Murray might look like, and being consistent is going to be key for a Cards offence that is essentially unchanged from a year ago.

At the centre of that offence is the Arizona Cardinals’ Mr Consistent, center Hjalte Froholdt who was once described by Jonathan Gannon as “exactly what you want in a Cardinal”.

Since joining the team in 2023, Froholdt has quietly established himself as one of Arizona’s best and most reliable offensive players, starting in all 34 games across the past two seasons and being an ever-present in a steadily improving offensive line. Overall, the Dane has contributed to 99% and 98% of the teams offensive snaps in his two years as a Cardinal.

Froholdt’s constant presence has been a calming influence on an offensive line that has had a rookie gain meaningful playing time in consecutive seasons (Johnson in 2023, Adams in 2024) and has faced upheaval due to injury.

The offensive line has been instrumental in implementing OC Drew Petzing’s highly effective run game, ranking 11th in the NFL for Run Block Win Rate last season (72%) and 9th for Running Back Yards Before Contact per rush (1.00).

The Cardinals’ offence also ranked in the top 10 in both EPA per play and success rate during the regular season.

Individually, the aptly nicknamed Desert Viking has grown from strength to strength, posting a career best year as a starter in 2024.

Recording a Pass Blocking Efficiency score of 98.0, Froholdt was responsible for conceding 3 sacks and 22 total pressures, enjoying a 3 game run against the 49ers, Green Bay and the Chargers without giving up a single pressure.

His overall 76.1 PFF grade ranked 6th amongst qualifying centers, 6th in run blocking (78.1) and 14th in pass blocking (66.1). Exclusively in gap concepts, he received a grade of 82.9, fourth at the position.

Those grades see him in the same company as Creed Humphrey, recently retired Frank Ragnow, Tyler Linderbaum and Zach Frazier with PFF analyst Mason Cameron ranking him as the 10th best center in the NFL.

Part of the 29-year-old’s improvement as a player can be credited to his insane work ethic when it comes to the gym and strength work.

Froholdt regularly posts parts of his workouts on his personal Instagram account or on OfficialDesertViking – his lifestyle, fitness and mindset Instagram profile – and has been known to use traditional strongman methods like carrying Atlas Stones to further build his power.

He demonstrated that power when he dominated former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland in a 1-on-1 drill at the UFC’s Performance Institute this summer.

Recently, Gannon outlined that Froholdt is “kind of the glue” offensively. The Head Coach told reporters that “He has the most loaded up plate mentally, that he handles really well. He sets the tone for our mode of play”.

The Desert Viking nickname isn’t just a cutesy coincidence, either. Froholdt approaches blocking with the same ferocity as his ancestors approached invasions of England in the Middle Ages.

Gannon also credited him as a “fantastic pro, a fantastic teammate”, something that was recognised by his teammates, with Froholdt being voted as a team captain this week.

This ascension to team captain and nailed-on starter may have seemed a world away to Froholdt when he was waived by the Patriots, just months after being drafted in the fourth round, and the Texans in consecutive seasons but the former Arkansas man has made a habit out of proving people wrong in his career.

One of those people is me. Now, my opinion doesn’t matter. I’m just a dude with access to the internet. I’m definitely sure that Hjalte Froholdt isn’t clanging and banging in the gym to prove a point to me or losing sleep over what I think about him.

However, something that has become lost in modern society is the ability to hold your hands up and admit when you’re wrong. We’re all incredibly quick to point out when we “called it” or were one of the first people to highlight a particular college prospect, but not many people own their mistakes.

I didn’t want Hjalte Froholdt when he signed from the Cleveland Browns. Having a brother who is a Browns fan is both hilarious and painful in *nearly* equal measure as I end up having to watch plenty of Browns football.

When Froholdt had to fill in for the Browns in 2022 at guard and center, he was an alarmingly worse blocker than both Wyatt Teller and Ethan Pocic who he was deputising for. He couldn’t snap the ball either – I didn’t realise that he’d never played center before that season.

When the Cardinals picked him up, I viewed it as a cheap rental as part of the impending rebuild.

Despite Froholdt doing well in 2023, I then advocated for the Cardinals to draft Jackson Powers-Johnson in the 2024 draft, thinking the potential of Powers-Johnson outweighed the relatively solid if not spectacular output of Froholdt. Entering 2025, Powers-Johnson is in a battle with Alex Cappa for a starting spot at right guard while Froholdt is viewed as a standout performer at center.

I couldn’t imagine this version of the Arizona Cardinals without Hjalte Froholdt.

After signing a two-year extension that will see him stay in the desert through the end of 2026, the 29-year-old will be aiming to meet the excellent standards that he set in 2024. Doing so could see him secure a major pay day down the line.

Consistency is key, after all.

Image Credits: Arizona Cardinals, Hjalte Froholdt, Kelley L Cox – Imagn Images