The 2025 NFL draft begins Thursday, but early in the day on social media, former Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart popped up with an unexpected post.
"This message is to all the Arizona Cardinals fans," Leinart said in a selfie video with Lambeau Field in the background. "We are here in Green Bay, Wisconsin for the draft and honestly it brings back a lot of great memories.
"(In) 2006 I was drafted 10th overall to Arizona. It really truly changed my life forever. I just wanted to tell all you fans, the Bidwills, and everybody in that organization that ..." Leinart paused, before saying "I'm sorry. Truly I'm sorry it didn't work out. It's a shame."
A quick review: Leinart was drafted (the same offseason the team signed running back Edgerrin James and State Farm Stadium opened) and the hype around the Cards couldn't be larger. He took over for a struggling Kurt Warner four games into the 2006 season.
But it never quite worked. Warner, the Hall of Famer he was, eventually reclaimed the job and took the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. No one held that against Leinart. But when Warner retired before the 2010 season, Leinart not only couldn't take back the starting job from Derek Anderson, but then-coach Ken Whisenhunt grew so frustrated with Leinart that Leinart was cut before the 2010 season started, with the Cardinals going with rookies Max Hall and John Skelton as Anderson's backups.
A shame indeed. But cool of Leinart to address the fans, who once had been so happy to hear Leinart's name called on draft night.
