Category: Arizona Cardinals offseason

It was on the morning of Nov. 3, several hours before the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Chicago Bears, that defensive coordinator Nick Rallis welcomed a newborn son into the world.

The story went to another level when it was learned that the boy’s middle name was Kyzir in honor of inside linebacker Kyzir White.

That’s why it was so jarring earlier this week, only two months later, that White posted what appeared to be a cryptic goodbye on Instagram. It said, “Thank you AZ,” and that prompted a response from fellow inside ‘backer Mack Wilson Sr., who wrote, “Don’t do this to me. Appreciate you for everything seven, for real bro. The true epitome of a leader. Go get yours.”

That, of course, was reference to the fact that White is scheduled to hit free agency on March 12 after signing a two-year contract in 2023, shortly after Jonathan Gannon was named head coach and hired Rallis. Both were with White in Philadelphia.

Gannon conducted exit interviews with players Monday and Tuesday, so we are left to wonder what he told White, who will be 29 in March.

Was it that his play was descending, which an NFL pro scout told me this week and that the team was moving on to get younger at the position? Or that re-signing him before the start of the league year was not a priority, and that he was welcome to see what was available in the market, but the door would be open after that?

That scout noted that White will “descend quickly if he loses a half step.”

We can only speculate and wonder what was communicated to White until something happens in two months, but there was still surprise because of the respect there is for a player that was voted a team captain and was responsible for relaying the defensive calls from Rallis.

This season, he played 1,018 defensive snaps (94 percent) and had 137 tackles (60 solo) and nine tackles for loss.

It’s also an eye-opener to reflect back to what motivated Rallis to bestow that name on his son.

He said then, “Kyzir specifically, I can tell my son ultimately what stands out about him and why he’s a captain is he’s the ultimate teammate, ultimate team-first guy. The model for accountability. There are so many stories I could probably list to you, but the guy shows up every day with a smile on his face ready to go to work.

“Takes a lot of ass chewings from me to be honest and he’s phenomenal with it like, ‘Yeah I like that! You make me better!’ It’s that kind of player that I have a lot of respect for.”

When asked about his relationship with other players, Rallis said, “As a coach, I have a great appreciation for being a part of a lot of players’ careers, and it’s a small part, because there’s so much that goes into what makes them great. I think back to when I was growing up and how I looked up to professional football players or college players and idolized them. There are people out there who do the same for these guys currently and the amount of work they put in to be who they are. It’s greatness.

“It’s cool to be a part of helping them get to where they are in their career and build a legacy. It’s kind of an appreciation that I have for a lot of guys that I’ve been around. Just being able to honor not just Kyzir but every player that I’ve touched in some sort of way and resembling that through my child’s name.”

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

The Arizona Cardinals have begun their offseason and have two months to re-sign players scheduled to become free agents before the new league year begins in March.

One key player and defensive captain, linebacker Kyzir White, suggested on social media that he won’t be back with the Cardinals in 2025.

He posted this on his Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEh9Z6yvOqi/?hl=en&img_index=1

He said thank you to the state of Arizona. This is a typical goodbye social media post.

White will be a free agent after two seasons with the Cardinals.

If you check the comments, you will see notes of support and sadness from teammates, all seeming to be well-wishing goodbyes in terms of being a teammate.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters in his season-concluding press conference on Monday that change is coming.

“Everybody knows in this building change is inevitable. That’s going to happen. The team is not going to look like this,” he said. “The team meeting today is going to be drastically different than the Tuesday after Easter when (the) offseason program starts.

“You thank them, and I’m appreciative of everybody because they did what I asked them to do. We do things our style, which isn’t for everybody, and that’s fine. It’s knowing that sometimes a lot of these guys that have made a lot of sacrifices and have laid it on the line for you as a coach to be successful, they’re not going to be here. You wish them well.”

White will turn 29 in March.

As a team captain, he played in and started all 17 games this season after his 2023 was cut short after 11 games when he tore his biceps. He had 137 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery this season.

He played the last two years on a two-year, $10 million deal.

Either he knows that he will seek more money than the Cardinals will want to pay, he wants to leave or the coaches communicated they were moving in a different direction.

They have Mack Wilson under contract two more seasons and drafted Owen Pappoe two years ago. They might believe that he is ready to move into a starting role.

If White leaves, it will be a big loss. He was a tone-setter, a leader and productive.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.