The Arizona Cardinals made history on Night 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft -- but not without a bit of unintended comedy. In a moment destined to be part of Cardinals draft lore, General Manager Monti Ossenfort admitted after the selection that the team had been operating with the wrong phone number for their top target, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
It could have been a disaster. Instead, it became one of the most memorable draft stories of the night.
"It can be challenging to find love, which the Arizona Cardinals learned firsthand on Night 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft," FOX Sports reported moments after the pick was announced--and challenging it was.
According to Ossenfort, the front office had been trying to reach Love to inform him that he was about to become the third overall selection -- but the digits they had on file simply weren't working. Multiple calls went unanswered. The clock was ticking. And somewhere out there, the player who was about to become a top-three pick had no idea.
"We had the wrong number," Ossenfort acknowledged, per FOX Sports. "It happens. You have a lot of contacts, a lot of information. But when it came time to make the call, we couldn't get through."
The Cardinals were eventually able to track down Love through other channels, and the pick was made official. But the mix-up added an unexpected layer of tension to an already high-stakes moment. For a franchise that has been searching for a true bell-cow back since the days of David Johnson's prime, the selection of Love at No. 3 overall sent a clear signal: the Cardinals are done waiting.
A Historic Selection
Love's selection wasn't just notable for the phone number debacle. It was also a significant moment in NFL draft history. By taking Love third overall, the Cardinals made him the first running back selected in the top three since Saquon Barkley went second overall to the New York Giants in 2018. In an era where the position has been increasingly devalued in the first round -- let alone the top 10 -- Arizona's move was a bold declaration that they believe Love is a generational talent.
"He plays with violence, speed, and vision," an AFC scout told Heavy.com earlier this month. "He's the kind of back that makes a defense change its entire game plan."
Love, for his part, was emotional after hearing his name called. In his first media availability as a Cardinal, he addressed the draft-night chaos with a smile.
"It's all good," Love said, according to Heavy.com. "I knew they wanted me. The phone thing was just a little hiccup. But I'm here now, and I'm ready to work."
The running back went on to say that he had spoken with head coach Mike LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett before the draft and felt confident that the Cardinals were the right fit for his skillset.
"They told me they wanted to build the offense around what I do well. That meant everything to me," Love said.
What Love Brings to Arizona
For Cardinals fans who have endured years of inconsistent rushing attacks, Love represents a potential solution. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound back is a rare blend of power and explosiveness. At Notre Dame, he rushed for over 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns in his final collegiate season, while also proving himself as a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield.
His game is often compared to that of Derrick Henry -- a downhill runner who can break tackles and take it to the house on any given play. But Love also has a shifty element that makes him dangerous in space. He runs with a low pad level that allows him to generate yards after contact, and his acceleration through the hole is elite.
The Cardinals finished 2025 with one of the league's least efficient rushing attacks. James Conner, now 31 years old and entering the final year of his contract, was productive but not the dynamic force he once was. The depth behind him was thin, and the offense lacked a true home-run threat.
Love changes that calculus immediately. He steps into a backfield that also features Conner and second-year Tyler Allgeier, but make no mistake: this is Love's backfield now. The Cardinals didn't invest the third overall pick to ease a rookie into a committee. Love will be the focal point of the running game from Week 1.
The Bigger Picture
The phone number gaffe is a funny footnote, but it also speaks to a larger truth about the draft process: it's chaotic, imperfect, and full of human error. Even with months of preparation, thousands of hours of film study, and an entire scouting department, things can go sideways in the final moments.
Ossenfort, to his credit, didn't try to spin the story or downplay the mistake. He owned it with a laugh, telling reporters that the team would be updating their contact information system going forward.
"We'll get that fixed," he said. "But in the end, we got our guy. That's what matters."
And Love seems to understand that the Cardinals were always locked in on him, regardless of the communication mishap.
"I think it's funny now," Love said. "But at the time, I was sitting there like, 'Are they going to call me or not?' I saw the draft board and everything was going how we thought. Finally, the phone rang, and everything was cool."
What's Next
The Cardinals still have two more days of the draft ahead of them, with picks in Rounds 2 through 7. The defensive side of the ball remains a priority, particularly along the defensive line and in the secondary. But the first round was all about making a statement on offense.
Arizona's decision to draft Love third overall will be debated by analysts who question the value of taking a running back that high. But for a team that has lacked identity and punch on offense, Love represents a foundational piece. He's a player opposing defenses will have to account for on every snap, and that alone changes the math for Hackett's offense.
In a draft class filled with intriguing quarterbacks, wide receivers, and pass rushers, the Cardinals went with the player they believe will have the most immediate and sustained impact. The fact that they almost couldn't reach him to tell him about it? That will just make the story better when Love is breaking tackles and piling up yards in the desert.
As for Love, he's ready to get to work.
"I've got a lot to prove," he said. "Being picked third is an honor, but now it's about showing why. I can't wait to get to Arizona and get started."
The Cardinals are counting on it -- and they're glad they finally got the right number.