Revenge of the Birds
Needless to say, the Cardinals’ offensive line has been a roller coaster this year.
It has been well documented that both guard spots have issues. It was thought that when Will Hernandez got off IR and rejoined the group, half the problem would be solved. Now, he has returned to the IR list.
Depending on who you talk to, the tackle situation is either good or needs at least one new body.
RELATED: CARDINALS PLACE WILL HERNANDEZ ON IR
That leaves the center position, which is manned by seasoned veteran Hjalte Frodholt. Plainly put: that position is doing well, and thanks for asking.
Frodholdt, age 29, was well-traveled when he arrived in Arizona in 2023. In fact, he has had numerous frequent flyer miles spanning the globe with his football career.
But he has found a home in Tempe and is a shining light along the Cardinals’ offensive line. In fact, he is ranked as one of the Top-5 centers in the league (among qualifying centers).
Pro Football Focus gives Frodholdt a 70.8 overall rating, with an emphasis on his strength as a pass blocker.
One thing for certain: if you are an offensive lineman with the Cardinals – you must have versatility in your toolbox. Frodholdt fits that bill.
For this year’s Pro Bowl, you can vote for Frodholdt here:
LINK: 2026 PRO BOWL VOTING – CENTER
Currently, Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman is the top vote-getter for the NFC. They only choose one center for each conference.
Hjalte Froholdt (pronounced YELL-duh FROH-holt) was born in Svendborg, Denmark. Growing up, football was never on his mind. He had family members who played rugby, and as a youngster, he watched the game with enthusiasm but not necessarily with a yearning.
At the age of 12, he went out for the American Football team, assuming that with all that hitting and tackling that this game was the same as rugby. He made the “Svendborg Admirals” team but only practiced because his team did not have enough players to compete in actual games, although they played 7-on-7.
As a teenager, he accepted an exchange student program invitation to the United States instead of requesting places like Australia or South America. As he was growing up to become a bigger guy, Froholdt thought American food was the better choice and heard all of their meals were “supersized.” How’s that for choosing a career path? Now a sophomore, he landed in Warren, Ohio, and attended Harding High School. There, he had another chance to play American Football.
He told Boston.com:
“Some people thought it was pretty hard to pronounce my name, so they just called me ‘Denmark. But it’s not too hard. I guess I’ve had a couple (nicknames) that I really don’t quite remember.”
At Harding, he played on both sides of the line, plus some tight end, and was the team’s punter. The learning curve did not come easily as the terminology of this new sport was so different...
