As Hjalte Froholdt stands for the national anthem before a game, he looks to the upper reaches of the stadium, at the fans that purchased tickets "up there at level 4000."
The Cardinals center can't help but think to himself how grateful he is for those people – the reason why there is an NFL game in the first place.
"I think, 'I have to do everything I can to win,'" Froholdt said.
He didn't have that feeling when he first arrived in the NFL, when he was trying just to hang on, when he wasn't ready to be the player or the person it would take to have a career. Yet Froholdt now is the anchor of the Cardinals' line, not only playing center but becoming the center of what grounds the unit.
Froholdt can't pinpoint exactly when he became that person, and some of his journey he prefers to keep to himself. But for the kid from Denmark, who fell in love with this American game and somehow managed to make it his life, it is something he cherishes and admittedly becomes emotional in those thoughts.
"I am grateful for my family and I am grateful for this game and everything it has given to me," Froholdt said. "The relationships it has given me, the opportunity it has given me. If I didn't have this game I wouldn't have my wife, I wouldn't have my children. Those are the greatest gifts. And then this brotherhood. This game is hard. But I try to think about this as much as I can.
"There was a moment when I finally realized what we do is amazing. I want to win, but I am so excited to do what I do for a living."
Froholdt hasn't missed a start since he signed with the Cardinals in 2023; Sunday in Houston will be his 48th straight game in that time. "I've been lucky enough not to have been caught at the bottom of a pile," he said, only half-joking.
Coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. will not play this weekend with a knee injury, leaving Froholdt as the only offensive lineman with a perfect record this year. (Left guard Evan Brown, who missed his second game of the season against the Rams for personal reasons, was still absent from practice Wednesday.)
There are plenty of veterans in the offensive line room. Right tackle Kelvin Beachum is a wise voice, for instance. But there is something about "The Desert Viking" – Froholdt's nickname – that resonates.
"He was voted captain for a reason," right guard Isaiah Adams said. "He does the right thing every day. When we have adversity in terms of our record, to have a guy so consistent in how he approaches things every week through it all, it's important."
The Cardinals named seven captains to begin the season. They are down to three that are healthy: Froholdt, defensive lineman Calais Campbell, and safety Budda Baker (who missed practice Wednesday for rest but also a thumb injury).
James Conner, Kyler Murray, Mack Wilson Sr. and Joey Blount are all on IR.
Being a leader wasn't automatic for Froholdt. He understood it matters who you are, what position you play, and how much you play. Over his career he has taken pieces from players like Ted Karras and David Andrews in New England – the team that made him a fourth-round pick in 2019, before he was cut midway through the 2020 season – and Joel Bitonio in his previous stop in Cleveland.
"You can guide a horse to the watering hole, but you can't force it to drink," Froholdt said. "I can guide a guy in the right direction, but people have to make their own decisions. I had a lot of great leaders early in my career, but I didn't perform. They guided me but I wasn't ready."
Understanding his own path helps now if he is talking to Adams or Jon Gaines II or Josh Fryar, all players who were on the bench but have been starting as the offensive line carousel continues because of injuries.
"It's not easy to get in the huddle with different guys every game, but he does his job at a high level," Gannon said. "He brings those guys with him; he's kind of the leader of that room and I'm very pleased with where he is at."
Froholdt was wearing a mic for the game against the Rams last weekend; it's noticeable his efforts to keep the offensive line engaged as the score turned sideways.
That's the leadership part Froholdt strives to accomplish. He isn't going to tear down a teammate – he's a believer in mental strength as well as positive reinforcement – and acknowledged sometimes his words of encouragement have a double impact.
"There are a lot of guys coming in and out, and sometimes, they just need to hear, 'C'mon, let's go,'" Froholdt said. "I've been really lucky to be around some really talented guys, and sometimes just a little, 'C'mon guys, it's important' or 'Be that guy' … it's not all of a sudden, I become a better player. Maybe sometimes I'm just saying it to myself, projecting. Just a little nudge, and hopefully it works."
On gameday, it's Froholdt's moment during the anthem that hits. On practice days, it's the walk toward the locker room when Froholdt feels gratitude toward the brotherhood he is part of every day, even after a hard two hours on the field. "It's cool I get to do this," he thinks.
He loves to be in the middle of it all.
"My role has grown into being that part," Froholdt said. "The center of that line. Our line."
