Markus Golden was never supposed to be the "safe" pick. When the Arizona Cardinals grabbed him in the second round back in 2015, the scouts loved his motor, but some wondered if he had the pure bend to survive against NFL tackles. He proved them wrong. Fast. He didn't just survive; he became the heartbeat of a defense that, for a few years there, was genuinely terrifying to play against.
Fans called him "Junk." Short for Junkyard Dog. It fits, honestly. He played with this relentless, almost frantic energy that made you exhausted just watching him from the couch. He wasn't the guy with the most polished spin move or the freakish 40-yard dash time. He was just the guy who wouldn't stop running until the quarterback was on the ground.
The Sack Artist Who Refused to Quit
You look at the numbers and they're actually kind of staggering for a guy who often played in the shadow of future Hall of Famers. In 2016, Golden put up 12.5 sacks. That's elite. What most people forget is that he and Chandler Jones were the first Cardinals duo to hit double-digit sacks in the same season since the mid-80s. They were a nightmare.
Then the injury happened. 2017. ACL tear. It sucked.
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Most guys lose a step after that. Maybe they lose their confidence. Golden? He just worked. But the business side of the NFL is cold, and he ended up in New York with the Giants for a bit. He proved everyone wrong again by putting up 10 sacks in 2019, becoming the first Giants linebacker to hit double digits in years. Still, Arizona felt like home. When Steve Keim traded a measly sixth-round pick to bring him back in 2020, it felt like justice.
Why the Fans Never Let Go
There is something about Arizona sports fans and "effort guys." We love them. We cling to them. Golden wasn't just a stat-sheet stuffer; he was the guy screaming after a third-down stop, even when the team was down by twenty. He lived for the "Bird Gang."
I remember a press conference where he talked about how much he loved the desert heat. Most players complain about the training camp sun in Glendale. Not Markus. He leaned into it. He treated every snap like it was his last, which is why his retirement in late 2024 felt so heavy for the fans. He actually signed a one-year deal with the Steelers to go back for one more run, but then, just days into camp, he called it. He was 33. He’d played nine years. His body had enough, and honestly, he had nothing left to prove.
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Markus Golden Arizona Cardinals Career Highlights
- 2015: Drafted 58th overall out of Mizzou.
- 2016: Led the team with 12.5 sacks.
- 2021: Led the team again with 11.0 sacks after his return from New York.
- Total Career Sacks: 51.0 (with 35.5 of those in a Cardinals jersey).
- The Legend Factor: 11 forced fumbles. He didn't just hit you; he took the ball.
The Post-Retirement Connection
Even now, in 2026, you still see #44 jerseys at State Farm Stadium. He didn't just disappear into the sunset. Recently, he's been back around the facility, working with the "Legends" program and even showing up on the Big Red Rage to talk shop. He's part of that trio—alongside Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson—that defined an era of Cardinals football that was actually fun. They had swagger. They had a chip on their shoulder.
It’s weird seeing the defense without that specific brand of "Junk" energy. The current roster has talent, sure, but do they have that guy who’s going to chase a screen pass 40 yards downfield just to get a hand on the ball carrier? That was Golden.
What We Can Learn From the Junkyard Dog
If you’re a young player or just a fan watching the game, Golden’s career is basically a blueprint for longevity. He wasn't the biggest. He wasn't the fastest. But he was the most prepared. He understood leverage. He understood that if you hit a tackle enough times, eventually they’re going to get tired before you do.
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Basically, he outworked the league for nearly a decade.
For those looking to keep the "Keep Hunting" mentality alive, here are a few ways to channel that Markus Golden energy in your own life or sports career:
- Focus on the second effort: Most people stop when the first plan fails. Golden’s sacks almost always came on his second or third move.
- Value the culture: He openly talked about how much he loved his teammates. Being the "glue guy" is just as important as being the star.
- Know when to pivot: He knew when to leave for the Giants to get paid, and he knew when to come home to finish his legacy.
The Arizona Cardinals are in a different phase now. New coaches, new schemes, new stars. But the standard for what an edge rusher should look like in Phoenix? That was set by Markus Golden. He wasn't just a player; he was a reminder that grit usually beats talent when talent doesn't want to work. Keep hunting, Junk.
To stay connected with the legacy of the 2010s Cardinals, you should look into the team's official "Legends" events or check out the recent archives of the Big Red Rage where Golden shares specific pass-rushing techniques he used to beat All-Pro tackles. Watching his film from 2016 is still the best masterclass available for any aspiring outside linebacker.