Jon Gaines II, an offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals, has recently stepped into a starting role on the team’s offensive line. With Evan Brown absent due to personal matters, Gaines has started at left guard over the last three games and also played center for a series against the Atlanta Falcons after Hjalte Froholdt briefly left with an elbow injury.
Gaines, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, missed his rookie season because of an ACL injury. He appeared in 13 games during the 2024 season as a reserve and occasionally took snaps at fullback in certain packages. This season, he was slowed by a hand injury suffered during preseason but has now returned to active play.
Coach Jonathan Gannon commented on Gaines’ contributions: “He’s super smart. I know if you ask him, he is comfortable playing anything. I know he’s really comfortable playing center, but it’s been cool to see him and (center) Hjalte (Froholdt) in there with the communication piece to that. He’s so intelligent and I think (over) these last kind of couple games that he has played, I think he is getting better.”
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing noted that Gaines’ experience as a center benefits the team’s communication along the offensive line, especially when operating on the road with silent counts. Right tackle Kelvin Beachum said, “All the preparation he’s been doing over the past couple years with the injuries he’s had … it’s paying off. He knows where he needs to be when he needs to be. First impressions matter.”
Gaines attributes much of his discipline and intelligence to his family upbringing. Education was emphasized at home—his father is a CEO of a non-profit organization and his mother lives with a permanent disability but remains active. Gaines attended Marquette University High School in Milwaukee before choosing UCLA for college after considering Princeton.
“You take pride in doing things the right way, and that comes from knowing what you’re doing, and that comes from expectations,” Gaines said. “Expectations were always a big thing in my family. It wasn’t like they were pressing me to do anything crazy, but if the expectations were to handle your business, you grow up understanding what you have to do.”
His recent performance allowed his family—including his six-month-old son—to watch him start in Arizona’s home finale against Atlanta.
“It’s always something I’ve prided myself on, knowing what to do,” Gaines said. “To be able to do something fast, you’ve got to know it, and know it cold.”
