Paris Johnson Jr. might be the most sure thing on the Arizona Cardinals offensive line this year and in his third season – second at left tackle – Johnson Jr. is glad to find a familiar face as his new position coach.
The hiring of Justin Frye as Cardinals offensive line coach reunites Johnson Jr. with his coach during his time at Ohio State, and Johnson Jr. had high praise for the new O-line guru.
“He had a huge role in my development,” Johnson Jr. told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Thursday.
“What makes him an elite coach as a developer is his patience and also with guys like me who want that success right now, when we have that expectation to be the best in the world right now, his ability to say, ‘hey, the goal today is to do this, that’s all I want you to focus on.'”
Predictably, Johnson Jr. was fielding a lot of calls about his new O-line boss when the hire was made in February.
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His message to his fellow offensive line was simple.
“The energy he brings is real but it’s all out of love and its all about helping people reach their potential,” he said.
Paris Johnson Jr. update on switching sides
Johnson Jr. said at Ohio State, Frye helped him transition from guard to tackle, similar to last year when he flipped from right tackle to left tackle.
But Frye’s expertise in that realm might not be needed as much this year.
Johnson Jr. says at this point, he’s more comfortable on the left side than he has ever been.
“The balance with the feet, I think that was the largest thing. I think at this point I don’t face any challenges with that transition anymore. After doing that for a full year, doing it now feels like the best its felt ever,” he said.
Paris Johnson Jr. sees change in Jonathan Gannon
Johnson Jr. will likely forever be linked to head coach Jonathan Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort as the first draft pick made under their administration.
He says he has seen some changes in Gannon to start training camp this year.
“Going into the third year here with him, I think the intent is up from him and the intensity he is expecting out of all the guys here, especially the guys that came here with him,” he said.
Wrapping up last year and moving forward
Looking back at last season, Johnson Jr. is hoping to end this season on the field.
He missed the last game of the year in 2024 with a knee injury.
It was the first game he missed in his career, including high school and college.
“It was a goal of mine to start every game of my career from beginning to end and to not miss. One of the only guys to do that was Joe Thomas,” he said.
For the stalwart left tackle, setting Joe Thomas as an example is a great idol to emulate.
Thomas was a six-time All Pro and made 10 Pro Bowls with the Cleveland Browns.
In his third season, Johnson Jr. was listed in the also receiving votes categories in an ESPN ranking of top offensive tackles in the NFL.
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