As quarterback Kyler Murray and the Cardinals enter the 2025 NFL season, general manager Monti Ossenfort said the pressure of playing up to expectations rests on the entire team and not just the veteran quarterback.
“This is the NFL. There’s pressure on all of us every day,” Ossenfort told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke Friday morning. “There’s pressure for all of us to come in and be our best and operate at a high level because this game, this league is very humbling and if we’re not at our best, no matter who it is, it’s gonna show quickly.”
The Cardinals enter 2025 looking to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021. Ossenfort added that he was confident in Murray’s ability to play up to expectations this season.
“We owe it to everybody in our locker room and that goes for Kyler too, that we have to be at our best. For us to be successful, Kyler is a big part of what we do and I know he’s ready for that challenge,” Ossenfort said.
The Cardinals invested heavily on the defense this offseason with the additions of Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell in free agency and drafting Walter Nolen III and Will Johnson in the draft. Ossenfort said the additions put the team in a better position to execute on all three phases of the game.
“We’re gonna do whatever we need to do to put our team in the position to be successful and to be competitive and to be the better team in all three phases. Whether it’s Kyler or any of our veterans on offense, defense, our young players, we’re looking forward to having a chance to prove that on Sunday,” Ossenfort said.
Cardinals GM stresses importance of long season, getting off to good start
Ossenfort added while an NFL season is long, it’s important for the team to get off to a hot start and start the season with a win on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The Cardinals have not won their opening game since 2021.
“Everybody looks at the first game and no matter what happens this coming Sunday, it’s gonna be overaction Monday,” Ossenfort said. “I think for us, the biggest thing we’re gonna do is what we preach to our players ‘it’s a process.’
“We definitely want to get out to a good start. We put ourselves in a good position to do that and out first test comes on Sunday and we’re gonna be ready for it.”
The Cardinals kick off their season against New Orleans Saints on Sunday at 10 a.m. MST. Catch the game on Arizona Sports 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.