Freaking out over Nathaniel Hackett’s Jeremiyah Love comments? You shouldn’t be

GLENDALE — Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has made one thing very, very clear in his short tenure with the franchise.

When it comes to rookies — regardless of draft status — they need a lot of help.

Every press conference he’s had this offseason, that point has been driven home, whether it be about Carson Beck, Jeremiyah Love or any other Cardinals rookie on the brain.

That’s why the uproar over Hackett calling Love “definitely a rookie” makes little to no sense.

For one, Love is just that. He’s been groomed as Arizona’s RB1, but the franchise isn’t overloading the running back right out the gates.

He’s getting work with the first-team offense but continued to follow behind Tyler Allgeier in both open practices so far.

Love’s shiftiness and speed quickly got the fans in State Farm Stadium cheering, but there’s still plenty to pick up before he’s anointed the starting role.

Jeremiyah Love doing Jeremiyah Love things. pic.twitter.com/taWtgST3PG

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) July 26, 2026

“Coming to this league, just the speed is so different,” Hackett said Saturday. “You talk about the speed, being in a new building, a lot of the guys … they’ve been in one place for a while and now it’s a whole new environment, new people, new people to work with and definitely new playbooks that are very intricate due to the fact of all the things that we see.

“For a young player to have to be able to adjust and learn just the basic system and then apply it to different defenses, it takes some time. Heads are spinning right now … but I think it’ll just get better and better. That’s the goal.”

As Hackett referenced, it’s still very early in the process. Pads haven’t even come on yet. Let’s slow the roll on wanting the offensive coordinator’s head well before the season begins just for calling it like it is.

But let’s read between the lines a little further, shall we?

There could also be some gamesmanship at play here, wanting to understate where Love is at. I think just about everyone expects Love to be the lead back in the offense even if Allgeier is expected to see his fair share of snaps.

Arizona wouldn’t have taken Love and his $53 million in guaranteed money at No. 3 overall if it was planning on him being second fiddle in a crowded running backs room.

Why not throw some doubt out there and see who bites?

And speaking of Allgeier, Arizona’s RB1 this camp, Hackett didn’t even reference him and instead brought up James Conner, who has yet to be in team drills this camp as he gets to full strength from an ankle injury.

Let’s not also forget that Conner could very well be a guy on the trading block with Arizona moving in a different direction with Love and Allgeier. If anything, it’s a good way to drum up some interest and get Conner’s name out there.

Maybe Hackett had a mental lapse diving into the room. Or maybe he wanted to keep his cards close to the vest when talking about the Cardinals’ run game.

Either way, let’s pump the brakes.

Related

Fresh off new deal, Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett ready to prove his worth and catch some ZsDiamondbacks allow 4 homers to drop rubber matchup vs. Nationals, lose wild card tiebreakerReactions pour in on Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett’s new contractJacoby Brissett, Cardinals agree to new contractThe Athletic’s Bowden lists Angels pitcher Jose Soriano as trade target fit for DiamondbacksMercury’s Kahleah Copper plays in 5th career WNBA All-Star Game