Jacoby Brissett is officially the Arizona Cardinals’ starting quarterback for 2026, and his new deal for $15.5 million with incentives up to $21 million is an absolute head-scratcher when you look at what other starters are pulling in across the league. This guy was brought in to be the backup, a veteran presence behind Kyler Murray, and now he’s the man, getting paid way less than half of what most starting QBs are raking in. Wild.
From Career Backup to QB1
We all watched last year as Brissett, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound vet with nine years and 53 starts under his belt, landed in Arizona. The plan was crystal clear: he was Kyler Murray’s experienced backup. This wasn’t some dramatic QB competition; he was penciled in with Clayton Tune as QB3. Brissett had been a career backup for a reason, right? He started two seasons for the Colts back in 2019 and 2020, and stepped in for Deshaun Watson for 11 games in 2022 with the Browns, but outside of that, he was always the guy holding the clipboard. Even in 2024, after five starts for the Patriots, he got bumped for rookie Drake Maye. Then, things went sideways for the Cardinals. Kyler Murray got hurt in that Tennessee Titans loss and went on IR. The offense actually came alive with Brissett at the helm, even if the wins didn’t follow. Then head coach Jonathan Gannon was fired, Mike LaFleur took over, and Murray was released. Just like that, Brissett was next in line for the starting gig for 2026.
The Deal That Has Everyone Talking
Once he knew he was the starter, Brissett wasn’t settling for backup cash. And the Cardinals coughed it up, but in a way that’s got the whole league buzzing. He inked a one-year deal for $15.5 million, with a chance to hit $21 million if he earns those incentives. Let’s be real, in the NFL, that’s less than half the price tag most starting quarterbacks are commanding. Brissett’s about to turn 34, he’s been in the league for 10 years, and frankly, he hasn’t had many chances to be a full-time starter. He was always lumped in with that crew of veteran backups like Colt McCoy, Marcus Mariota, and Gardner Minshew. But now, he’s got his new contract, he’s locked in as Arizona’s starter, and he’s already out there practicing, ready to lead the charge.
What’s Next For The Unexpected Starter
Brissett is out there practicing, the official starter, and has that shiny new deal. The Cardinals bet on him, and the price they paid is honestly stunning for a starting QB in today’s market. With the regular season just around the corner, all eyes will be on how this “career backup” handles the pressure of being the clear-cut QB1, especially at such a bargain price. It’s going to be wild to see what he does with this shot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
Leave a Reply