Cardinals LB Jack Gibbens on team turnarounds: ‘There’s no reason we can’t do that here’

Newly minted Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jack Gibbens has seen firsthand how one poor NFL season doesn’t have to carry over into the next year.

He joined a New England Patriots team last year following a 4-13 campaign in 2024, and the former Minnesota Golden Gopher went on a 14-3 regular-season ride that made a final pit stop at Levi’s Stadium in Super Bowl 60.

“Anyone can win any Sunday. Everyone’s good and anyone can make it happen,” Gibbens said Wednesday on Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke. “Just that belief, creating an identity, playing to that identity and believing in the guys next to you.

“I think that there’s no reason we can’t do that here.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Arizona Sports (@arizsports)

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound linebacker signed a two-year contract with Arizona in March after producing the third-most tackles (81) among New England defenders. His eight tackles for loss last season were tied for the second-most as well, with Gibbens playing in every possible Patriots game, including their four postseason contests.

Gibbens’ first taste of NFL playoff action resulted in 19 total tackles (seven solo), which was highlighted by a postseason-high three solo takedowns in a 29-13 Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

“It was a pretty special run we went on last year, special team … the closeness of that team, guys really cared about each other. That’s something that kind of gave us an edge,” Gibbens said, who spent his first three NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans after going undrafted in 2022.

“I kind of already feel that here. I noticed all the guys here have no egos, everyone’s kind of all in on getting this thing going and winning a bunch of games next year.”

The linebacker, whose childhood nickname “Gibby” has stuck as a professional, he told Wolf & Luke, will operate in a position room led by Mack Wilson Sr. and Cody Simon and rounded out by Owen Pappoe and Austin Keys. Sixth-round draft pick Karson Sharar also figures to vie for playing time.

It’s no secret the Cardinals are coming off a miserable 3-14 season, and even the drafting of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall didn’t tip the scales in their favor, at least from an external view.

But, as Gibbens just experienced, a new head coach (Mike Vrabel) and fresh scheme and operation can lead to quick success. Entering the 2025 season, the Patriots were given the fifth-longest odds (80 to 1) by one sportsbook to win the Super Bowl.

And New England leaned on its defense to claim an unexpected AFC Championship, with Gibbens at its forefront.

“The margins in this league are so small, so it comes down to the minute details and execution,” Gibbens said. “Having that camaraderie and playing for each other, truly believing that we’re going to get this done.”

Jack Gibbens is no stranger to practicing in extreme heat

The native of Bulverde, Texas, a small town north of San Antonio, won’t be discouraged by Arizona’s dry heat as training ramps up into the summer.

“Grew up in south Texas, guys’ bottom of their cleats were melting off. I had a separate pair of cleats for the summer when we got the season going,” said Gibbens, who prepped at Smithson Valley High School. “It’ll be alright.”

Thursday marked the end of the Cardinals’ first session of voluntary organized team activities. Arizona has two more bouts of OTAs (May 26-27 and 29, June 1-2 and 4) before veteran/rookie minicamp begins June 8.

Related

Cardinals’ Carson Beck aces 1st big NFL test with Hall of Fame game showingMike LaFleur surprised by brother, Packers coach Matt LaFleur ahead of Hall of Fame gameCarson Beck leads 96-yard TD drive in Arizona Cardinals preseason debutLarry Fitzgerald honors childhood idol Cris Carter with Hall of Fame gold jacket choiceLarry Fitzgerald looks back more on relationships he built in NFL career than accoladesArizona Cardinals could target Jaguars offensive tackle Walker Little in proposed trade