Jacoby Brissett started 12 games for the Cardinals last season and now has a new deal for the 2026 season. Sam Hodde / Getty ImagesJuly 26, 2026 Updated 3:21 pm EDTThe Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Jacoby Brissett have agreed to a restructured contract for the 2026 season, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN was first to report the deal.The new deal will pay him $15.5 million, per ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, with the opportunity to earn $21 million. Brissett, who signed a two-year contract in March 2025 with Arizona, does not have an agent and negotiated the deal on his own.Brissett is expected to be the Cardinals’ Week 1 starter after stepping in last season after Kyler Murray was injured in a Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Murray did not return the rest of the season.Brissett, 33, last season took over for Murray and put up strong numbers, but Arizona went 1-11 in his starts. The lack of protection and running game did not help. Nor did the defense.How do NFL teams stay under the salary cap?Daniel Popper and Lauren Morales-JonesHe threw for 3,366 yards with 23 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, while completing 64.9 percent of his attempts. His completions (315), attempts (485), yards and TD passes were all career bests.What it meansAlthough this contract adjustment situation dragged on throughout the spring, the expectation in league circles was always that the Cardinals and Brissett would agree to his raise. Brissett has typically expressed confidence and a competitive spirit about his situation overall in Arizona. Last summer as training camp began, Brissett indicated that he would compete and prepare as though he would eventually start — even with former franchise QB Kyler Murray on the roster at that time.Into this offseason, with other options at the position limited for Arizona, Brissett was again clear that if the team asked him to start, he would need improved compensation. To essentially call his shot — then stand his ground, including doing his own negotiation, adds a rare flourish to this type of situation that we don’t often see. Will it turn into wins? That’s a question for another day. For now, they have their 2026 starter. — Rodrigue