Cardinals’ Zach Allen says Markus Golden helped save his career

The Arizona Cardinals’ defensive unit has used the offseason as a time to not only train but gel through off-the-field activities.

In episode four of Cardinals Flight Plan released Friday, fans got an inside look at the “Front line of defense” and their offseason workouts.

Defensive end Zach Allen explained how outside linebacker Markus Golden saved his career after a disappointing start during his first two seasons.

“I always say Markus is one of the people that saved my career,” Allen said. “In my second year, he got traded and I had just been put on the IR for an ankle injury for the second time in two years with an ankle injury.”

“You’re kind of doubting yourself but after every game, he would come up to me and say, ‘You’re the guy, you’re a beast, we love you.’ You’re not seeing it in yourself, but hearing it from someone that is accomplished, I really think my career took off when he got traded here.”

Allen appeared in only four games during his rookie campaign and 13 in his second season with 43 tackles and two sacks over those two years.

In his third season, Allen played in 15 games (14 starts) and recorded 48 tackles with an interception and three fumbles recovered.

Golden played in nine games with Arizona during the 2020 campaign (Allen’s second season) after being traded from the New York Giants.

“A lot of guys have ups and downs in their career, there’s going to be injuries, there’s going to be sad times,” Golden said. “My job is to make sure I am there for them.”

“When I was a young guy I had guys like Frostee Rucker, Calais Campbell and Chandler Jones that was there for me,” he said. “It’s always good to pay it back. I love Zach and he has a real bright future.”

Golden has played six seasons in Arizona, recording 170 tackles, 33 sacks, three fumbles recovered and one interception in that time.

Golden is slotted to start at the outside linebacker position opposite of Dennis Gardeck while Allen will start alongside J.J. Watt at the defensive end position.