The Arizona Cardinals faced a slew of challenges on special teams last season, with punter Blake Gillikin’s back injury in Week 5 being a significant setback. His absence was felt as he spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.
In the five games he did play, Gillikin showcased his skills by averaging 51.7 yards on 22 punts, with a 45.4 net average and placing eight punts inside the 20-yard line. His presence also seemed to benefit kicker Chad Ryland, who made 8 of 10 field-goal attempts during those games, with one miss being a challenging 57-yarder. However, without Gillikin holding, Ryland's performance dipped, hitting only 17 of 23 attempts (73.9 percent) in the remaining games, including misses from 33, 43, and 44 yards.
Gillikin is making his return in 2026 on a one-year contract. Here’s a breakdown of the deal:
Blake Gillikin’s contract is valued at $1.905 million for one year. It includes $450,000 guaranteed, comprised of a $300,000 signing bonus and $150,000 of his $1.25 million base salary.
The contract also features $15,000 per-game roster bonuses, which could total up to $255,000, and a $100,000 bonus for offseason workouts. This brings his salary-cap charge to $1.725 million.
Gillikin’s return could be a game-changer for the Cardinals' special teams, offering stability and expertise that were sorely missed.