‘He was ecstatic’ – Former Ohio State star was thrilled his NFL team could take a coach from the Buckeyes after National Championship
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day called it “champagne problems” when referencing the Buckeyes dealing with some coaching turnover following their National Championship run. Most notably, the Buckeyes had to replace both coordinators Jim Knowles and Chip Kelly. Knowles took a lateral job at Penn State, while Kelly made an unsurprising jump to the NFL. […]
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day called it “champagne problems” when referencing the Buckeyes dealing with some coaching turnover following their National Championship run.
Most notably, the Buckeyes had to replace both coordinators Jim Knowles and Chip Kelly. Knowles took a lateral job at Penn State, while Kelly made an unsurprising jump to the NFL.
Another key loss for the Buckeyes was offensive line coach Justin Frye deciding to take a job in the NFL as well. Though Frye was heavily rumored to be in on the Chicago Bears’ OL job, it was the Arizona Cardinals that he took a job with.
Now in the NFL, Frye gets to work with former Buckeye Paris Johnson Jr., who was drafted No. 6 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft after a standout career in Columbus.
“He was ecstatic,” Frye said on Johnson’s thoughts of him coming to Arizona. “I was in the airport, flying back. [There was] a little bit of tears, [a] little bit of excitement. Having had a good relationship with him before and then we get a chance to get back and work together and improve and grow together.”
Johnson has started 31 canes over the last two seasons for the Cardinals. In 2025, Johnson was rated the No. 12 offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus with a grade of 80.8. The former five-star recruit held his own as a rookie and made improvements in his second season. Don’t be surprised if Johnson takes another leap and is a Pro Bowler in 2025.
“I’m excited just to see the jump for him really to be year three but year one to two being back on the left side. When it took him it was from guard to tackle, you know it was a whole new world.”
Johnson started 26 straight games over his last two seasons at Ohio State and was a unanimous All-American as a junior in 2022. The Ohio native was the last highly rated recruit on the offensive line that made a splash for the Buckeyes.
Keep an eye on Johnson in 2025, as he now has a position coach who helped him reach All-American status in college. That could be bad news for defensive ends trying to get after Cardinals QB Kyler Murray.
Ohio State’s big offseason swings blew up in their face, and it’s playing a role in the season slipping away
The additions didn’t pan out.
