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Former New England Patriots and current Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jack Gibbens broke his silence about being released from the organization. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported this on Sunday.
Gibbons officially signed with the Cardinals to a two-year, $7.5 million contract. This came after the Patriots declined to tender him as a restricted free agent.
The deal itself includes $4.5 million in total guarantees, with 4 million fully guaranteed. This covers the $2 million signing bonus and his 2026 base salary.
Gibbens Enjoyed Time With New England Patriots
Despite his new home, Gibbens has nothing but positive things to say about his time in New England and Mike Vrabel.
“Yeah, definitely. It will definitely be tough to leave there. It’s bittersweet. I love that team. I love Coach Vrabel and his staff. We had an unforgettable year, for sure. It’s definitely a little sad leaving those guys but just felt like I had a great opportunity with an organization that is kind of trying to get things going in the right direction, similar to [where] New England was last year. So I’m excited to get out there and be part of the turnaround and getting back to where we just took the Patriots.”
Linebacker was undoubtedly a part of the turnaround for the Patriots in 2025. He provided stability at the linebacker position. Furthermore, he gave the Patriots valuable snaps when some of the key pieces of the defense went down with injuries. Gibbens really shone brightly when Robert Spillane missed extended time.
The linebacker had 35 total tackles and a sack without Spillane on the field. This lasted over the course of four games and reaffirmed how valuable he was to the team. Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills was his first game as a primary signal caller. He played a hundred percent of the defensive snaps and recorded a six-yard sack on Josh Allen. The playmaker also recorded two tackles for loss in the contest.
The week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens was another big game for him. He had 10 tackles in the contest. He was able to show that he could handle an expanded role against some of the toughest teams in the AFC. Now, he will be able to bring that skill set to the Cardinals and help provide productive snaps when he is on the field.
It would have been ideal for the Patriots to bring him back. He could have still been a key part of the defense and anchor in the linebacker room once again. Nevertheless, the Patriots wanted to go in a different direction defensively. Gibbens could really have the opportunity to shine in a larger role with the Cardinals, so this could be a move that’s good for both parties.
Solid Culture Building For New England Patriots
Either way, Vrabel is building a solid culture in New England. Players seem to enjoy playing for him, and it was evident in the success on the field last year, as the organization went from a rebuild year to a magical playoff run. Now, the Patriots will look to follow that up with another successful season in the 2026 campaign.