Arizona Cardinals Rookie Jeremiyah Love Vows His 14-Year Pregame Tradition with Dad Will Continue in NFL (Exclusive)

Jeremiyah Love and his dad Jason at the 2026 NFL Draft
Credit: Jason Miller/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Jeremiyah Love confirms he'll be continuing the sentimental pregame tradition he created with his father when he was just 6 years old
• Love tells PEOPLE his dad "wants me to be the best version of myself" and "reminds me of who I am every game, every day"
• The Arizona Cardinals selected Love third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23

Jeremiyah Love is bringing a very special tradition with him to the NFL.

Just before the Arizona Cardinals selected the 20-year-old running back out of Notre Dame with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23, Love confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE that he'll be continuing the sentimental tradition he began with his father, Jason, when he was just 6 years old.

"The tradition is, basically, my dad gets me before every game, grabs me by my helmet, just encouraging me to be me, be authentically me, go out there and do what I gotta do," Love said Thursday from the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, adding his father "wants me to be the best version of myself," and "reminds me of who I am every game, every day."

"That tradition is going to continue into the NFL," Love vowed.