Veteran running back James Conner will remain with the Arizona Cardinals for the 2026 season after agreeing to revise the final year of his contract.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first to report: “The Cardinals and two-time Pro Bowl RB James Conner have agreed to a revised contract to keep him in Arizona for 2026, sources say. Conner played just three games last season because an ankle injury. But he’ll be back at age 31.”
Entering his 10th NFL season and sixth with Arizona, the 31-year-old running back saw his 2025 season cut short after suffering a serious ankle injury in Week 3 against San Francisco that required surgery. He appeared in only three games and finished the year with 95 rushing yards. Conner has accumulated 6,065 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns, along with 289 receptions for 2,255 yards. In total, he has scored 72 touchdowns during his nine-year career.
Conner had been scheduled to earn a base salary of $6.39 million and carry a salary cap hit of about $9.8 million, making him a potential release candidate as the team looked to create financial flexibility. Instead, both sides chose to restructure the agreement, lowering the cap burden and keeping the experienced back in Arizona.
Despite his injury setback, the Cardinals still value Conner’s presence in their offense. Before last season, he recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns — the first of his career — and signed a two-year extension with the team in late 2024.
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