Jacoby Brissett is heading into the 2026 season with a much bigger number on his contract and a much firmer grip on Arizona’s quarterback job.
The Cardinals have reworked the deal for the former NC State star, bumping his 2026 salary from $4.88 million to $15.5 million. With incentives, the contract can climb to as much as $21 million this season. For a quarterback entering his 11th NFL season, that’s a major reward for a player who spent the last couple of months negotiating the raise on his own.
Brissett originally signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with Arizona in March 2025, and the expectation at the time was that he would back up Kyler Murray. That plan didn’t last long. When Murray went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 5, Brissett stepped in and handled the starting job for the rest of the season.
Arizona’s record in those starts was rough - 1-11 in 12 games - but Brissett’s individual production stood out. He put together his best statistical season as a primary starter in the NFL, finishing with a 64.9% completion percentage, 3,336 passing yards, 23 touchdown passes, 8 interceptions and a 94.1 passer rating.
With Murray no longer on the roster, the Cardinals have now made Brissett’s role official. Head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed this week that Brissett will start Week 1, locking him in as Arizona’s quarterback heading into the season. The team did add more depth behind him, signing Gardner Minshew and drafting Carson Beck in the third round, but Brissett remains the guy.
Back at NC State, Brissett’s two seasons in Raleigh still show up all over the record book. He ranks first in interception avoidance, third in rushing yards by a quarterback, sixth in passing efficiency, and seventh in completions, passing touchdowns, completion percentage and total offense. He also sits 10th in passing yards.
His NFL résumé is just as strong when measured against other Wolfpack quarterbacks. Among NC State quarterbacks who reached the league, Brissett ranks third in career passer rating, fourth in games played, fifth in games started, fifth in passing yards, fifth in passing touchdowns and fifth in wins.
It’s been a career built on taking the shot when it comes. Transferring to NC State, waiting for his NFL opening, representing himself in contract talks - Brissett has kept betting on himself. This latest raise says the bet paid off again.
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NC State Faces A Bigger ACC Money Problem Than Fans Realized
A new Athletic poll of power-conference coaches offers another reminder that the NIL arms race is no longer just about who wants to spend, but who can keep up. The estimates suggest the SEC has surged to about $18 million on average, while the ACC sits well behind at roughly $11.5 million, a gap that helps explain why roster-building feels so much harder for programs trying to stay competitive without the same financial muscle.
For NC State, that kind of conference-wide picture matters because the leagues spending ladder appears to be stretching in both directions, with a handful of schools believed to be leading the way and others stuck trying to chase them. The Athletics numbers are only coach estimates, so they should be treated cautiously, but the broader message is hard to miss: the ACCs internal divide may be as important as its place behind the SEC, and one league source says the spread is already more than $20 million. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Football Hit With More Off-Field Trouble Before Belichick's Second Season
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The situation grew more complicated when the university placed football general manager Mike Lombardi on paid administrative leave while a separate human resources complaint is investigated. School officials have not released further details about either matter, leaving the program with two unresolved issues hanging over it at once and no clear timeline for when either will be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Puts Football GM Michael Lombardi On Immediate Leave
North Carolina has placed football general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave effective immediately, a notable development for a program that has spent the offseason building around its new structure. UNC said the move is standard procedure and declined to say more, leaving the school to manage the situation while preseason camp is about to get underway.
The timing adds another layer of uncertainty for a staff that has been trying to settle in before the Aug. 29 season opener against TCU in Ireland. Lombardi, a longtime Bill Belichick associate and one of UNCs first major hires in the revamped football operation, now sits in the middle of an unresolved review at a moment when the Tar Heels would prefer the focus to stay on football. [Read more 🡒]