As the NFL offseason progresses, the Arizona Cardinals are inching closer to the start of the regular season. They are set to open their 2024 season on the road against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 8, which is just 81 days away. Tight end Travis Vokelek currently wears No. 81 for the team and will be competing for a spot on the final roster.
The last notable player to wear No. 81 for the Cardinals was Jim Dray, who played for the team from 2010-2013 and made a brief return in 2017. Initially a seventh-round pick out of Stanford, Dray transitioned from a special teams player to a starting tight end in 2013. He earned the trust of head coach Bruce Arians and contributed 26 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns that season.
Despite leaving the team, Dray showed his reliability by returning in 2017 to help the Cardinals during a difficult period of injuries. His tenure with the team extended beyond his playing career as he served as offensive quality control coach under head coach Kliff Kingsbury from 2020-2021. To hear more Cardinals news and analysis, tune into Cards Wire’s Jess Root on the Rise Up, See Red podcast available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple podcasts.