Two of the Cardinals; remaining UFAs find new NFL homes
It’s a sad day for Arizona Cardinals’ fans who have always held OLB Dennis Gardeck in high regard. He was just signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sources: The #Jaguars are signing former #Cardinals OLB Dennis Gardeck, who has 17 career sacks — including 9 over the past two seasons.
A former undrafted free agent out of Sioux Falls, Gardeck spent 7 seasons in Arizona and now heads to Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/Erjs5aFjgZ
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 4, 2025
Who will ever forget how it took only two pre-season games as an undrafted rookie in 2018 out of Sioux Falls to acquire the nickname of “Gardeck the Barbarian” from Cardinals’ color commentator Ron Wolfley for Dennis’ relentless effort as a gunner on special teams?
Who will ever forget how Dennis Gardeck recorded 7 sacks and 18 QB pressures in a mere 97 pass rushes while trying to fill the void left by Chandler Jones’ season-ending injury. That’s a 22.7% QB pass rush win rate, which is extraordinary, to say the least.
Then sadly came the first of the ACL tears during the Cardinals’ home win over the Eagles after Dennis landed two sacks on Jalen Hurts and was practically unstoppable.
Who will ever forget edge plays like this:
Look at this rep from Dennis Gardeck. Beat multiple blocks to blow up the run.
Related: Gardeck is PFF’s highest graded Cardinals starter this season outside of Kyler Murray pic.twitter.com/LrwcaFcuBY
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) September 24, 2024
Or this gem:
HUGE INT from Dennis Gardeck! pic.twitter.com/dLqapzniM1
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) September 22, 2024
Or this Johnny-on-the-Spot fumble recovery on Special Teams:
GARDECKY RECOVERY pic.twitter.com/hxJrAUxCB8
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) October 22, 2023
The past two seasons Dennis Gardeck was leading the team in sacks and QB pressures with 9 and 54 respectively, when sadly once again he teared an ACL in the Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Yet what Dennis Gardeck may be most remembered for in Arizona was his leadership as a multi-year special teams’ captain and his insatiable work ethic. Kliff Kingsbury used to remark about seeing “The Barbarian” doing rope tosses at the Cardinals’ facility at 4:30 am.
Who will ever forget “The Barbarian’s” sack dance?
Dennis Gardeck had an unreal run with the Arizona Cardinals.
From working part-time at McDonalds while playing at West Virginia State ➡️going undrafted out of South Dakota State to starring on special teams➡️ signing a $12M contract and starting at outside linebacker pic.twitter.com/J0lC7B5h3s
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) June 4, 2025
“Gardecky” is a popular GIF (thanks to Kyler Murray!):
GARDECKY pic.twitter.com/Lk0qXhNhU9
— WhosMuerte (@WhosMuerte) October 2, 2022
And for 7 years with the Cardinals —-> Dennis Gardeck was a gift.
Hope “The Barbarian” lights it up in Jacksonville.
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In other news pertaining to former Cardinals, the Detroit Lions, a day after the announcement that All-Pro center Frank Ragnow retired, have signed C/G Trystan Colon.
Trystan Colon played good, dependable football at guard and center for the Cardinals the past two seasons. He was ideal for swing C/G active roster spot on game days and when needed to fill in or start games at guard and center, he was like Domino’s Pizza —- he delivered.
In close to 400 snaps last season, Trystan Colon scored a 71.0 PFF grade.
This is a very good signing for the Lions, especially in June.
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