Hjalte Froholdt

Hjalte Froholdt's Biography

Hjalte Froholdt, born in Denmark on August 20, 1996, began his American football career in his native Denmark, where he played for the Svendborg Admirals. Subsequently, he was an exchange student at Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio, during his sophomore year. After returning to Denmark, he continued to hone his skills as part of the Søllerød Gold Diggers’ U-19 youth team. As his senior year approached, Froholdt took another significant leap into the American football scene by enrolling at the renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

A significant turning point in Froholdt’s career came when he was recruited by Bret Bielema, who served as the head coach for the University of Arkansas at the time and was working as the defensive line coach for the New England Patriots in 2019. Froholdt then secured a place on the Razorbacks roster where he started as a defensive lineman in 2015. A year later, he transitioned into the offensive line, where he began to truly shine. He showcased his talent by playing 13 games at left guard in 2016 and another 12 in 2017, not allowing a single sack in the latter year. Froholdt then had a short stint playing center in 2018 before moving back to left guard.

In addition to his on-field exploits, Froholdt demonstrated his versatility in 2019, when he worked as a broadcaster for Danish media during Super Bowl LIII. This marked his entrance into the National Football League (NFL), as he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL draft’s fourth round, making him the second native of Denmark to be drafted by an NFL team.

Froholdt’s journey with the Patriots abrubptly ended when he sustained a shoulder injury during a preseason game against the New York Giants. He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2019. He was waived by the Patriots about a year later, and on November 23, 2020, Froholdt was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans. However, he was sidelined again, this time on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Upon his return, he didn’t quite fit into the Texan’s roster and was waived, only to be re-signed to the practice squad.

The next stages of Froholdt’s career saw him bounce between teams. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns off the Houston Texans’ practice squad on October 5, 2021. After being waived and re-signed to the Browns’ practice squad, Froholdt was elevated to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement player.

On January 10, 2022, the Browns decided to secure Froholdt’s talents by signing him to a reserve/futures contract. This move was short-lived, as on March 15, 2023, Froholdt signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, taking over as the starting center in the same year and maintaining that position consistently.

His impressive performance led to the Cardinals’ decision to extend Froholdt’s contract for another two years, announced on August 21, 2024. Around the same time, Froholdt shared some joyous personal news. On August 23, 2023, he and his wife, Ashley, welcomed their baby girl, Lucia Loloma, into the world.

In conclusion, Hjalte Froholdt’s journey from Denmark to the NFL has been marked by challenges, opportunities, and a sheer determination to excel. Despite the injuries and team swaps, Froholdt has maintained focus and risen to a secure position within the Arizona Cardinals team, confirming his status as a professional American football player of note.