‘I love it here’: Mack Wilson Sr. would like to play his career out with the Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. is entering the final year of his contract in 2026, but he would like to finish his career with the Cardinals.

“I love it here. Honestly, it’s the first place – I’ll say I felt the most comfortable,” Wilson told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo Thursday. “My family’s comfortable. Just the camaraderie that this team has. It’s the first team I’ve ever really been on where it’s no egos and the coaches just pour into you, and the city is lovely.”

Wilson, 28, is a seven-year veteran in the league. He started his career with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him in the fifth round out of Alabama.

Wilson started 14 games his rookie year, collecting a career-high 82 tackles, seven passes defended and four tackles for loss. The 21-year-old linebacker at the time also had two quarterback hits, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception his rookie year, which had been his best season in the NFL until 2024 with the Cardinals.

Over the next four seasons (two with the Browns and two with the New England Patriots), Wilson started 18 total games. His numbers were still impressive for a non-starter, but they dropped off dramatically from his rookie year.

The veteran linebacker signed with Arizona in 2024 because the coaching staff had a plan for him, and that plan helped Wilson have arguably the best season of his career.

“It’s just a blessing. It’s a team that I feel like really took me in and accepted me for who I was, and I was able to flourish here. And so, I feel like it’s only right for me to end my career here. Lord’s will, I’m here for the long haul.”

Wilson started all 16 games for the Cardinals in 2024, setting a career high with seven quarterback hits. He rounded that out with 75 tackles, four for loss, three sacks, five passes defended, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Last season, the Cardinals linebacker was on pace for the best year of his career. Through eight games, Wilson had 60 tackles, six passes defended, three tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, an interception and a forced fumble.

Arizona was also 3-5 before Wilson got injured and wound up missing the rest of the season, when the Cardinals finished 0-9.

You can’t attribute the downfall to one player, and that certainly was not the case, but Wilson’s absence from the defense definitely played a role.

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