Isaac Seumalo bought a house in the suburb of Gilbert last year, before he went into the season as a starter along the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line.
He didn't know he was going to end up playing so close to home – not that it was the most important thing.
"It's great to be in a place where you are wanted," Seumalo said Wednesday afternoon, after signing his three-year free-agent contract with the Cardinals reportedly worth up to $30 million.
The Cardinals will be bringing through a handful of new signees this week, getting signatures on deals already agreed upon. That started with Seumalo and defensive lineman Roy Lopez, who signed his own two-year contract to return to his home state and previous team after a year in Detroit.
Seumalo is the biggest piece of the talent influx, a veteran guard who will step into the left side next to tackle Paris Johnson Jr. as the Cardinals rebuild their offensive line. The 6-foot-4, 303-pounder has been in the league 10 years, starting all 44 games he played for the Steelers the last three seasons with 60 starts total (and a Super Bowl ring) including his first seven seasons with the Eagles.
What the Cardinals will get goes beyond just experience on the field.
They get to be part of Seumalo's "adaptive journey."
"I think as you get older, you evolve," Seumalo said. "Not only your game, but the other part is, 'What are you doing off the field? How are you eating? Do you get enough rest? Are you doing, whatever, mobility, flexibility, strength work, PT (physical therapy), stem cell is a big thing now.
"I will scour every part of the planet to get whatever I possibly can to get an advantage over everybody else."
Seumalo doesn't know Johnson, but he said he's looking forward to building a bond and said he hoped Johnson liked Seumalo's tape, because what Johnson has put on tape means something to his new teammate.
Seumalo's father is a longtime college defensive assistant coach, now at Oregon State but once at the University of Arizona and also Arizona State. It is that background – and his own evolution – that has helped get him here. Always in the moment.
The Super Bowl title will always be meaningful, for instance, but now is what matters.
"I think at this point in my career, if you don't enjoy those other, you know, five, six days, then you're gonna have a really miserable experience," Seumalo said. "How can I get better every day? How can I help my teammates every day? That's always at the forefront of my mind."
That work will now be taking part at the Dignity Health Training Center, not too far from home. A great reason to find his way to the Cardinals in free agency.
"I mean, the money is good," Seumalo said. "I won't pretend that's not a part of it.
"Also, living out here was a factor. But the biggest part is I want to win, and I want to win with a team that wants me."
