The Arizona Cardinals continue to add to a defense that was miserable in 2025.
Today, they announced they have signed linebacker Jack Gibbens to a two year contract, while signing veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings to a one-year contract.
Gibbens (6-3, 242) played all 17 games (eight starts) last season with the Patriots and had 71 tackles (39 solo) and tied or set career-highs in tackles for loss (eight), quarterback hits (three), passes defensed (four) and sacks (1.0) while also recording his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery. Gibbens saw action in all four postseason games with New England including starting in Super Bowl LX.
The 27-year old Gibbens is a four-year NFL veteran who has played 46 career games (28 starts) with Tennessee (2022-24) and New England (2025) after entering the league with the Titans in 2022 as an undrafted rookie free agent from the University of Minnesota. In his career, Gibbens has 231 tackles (129 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, six quarterback hits, eight passes defensed, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Billings (6-1, 340) played all 17 games (14 starts) last season with Chicago and had 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and five quarterback hits. In the past three seasons with Chicago, he started 39-of-42 games and recorded 71 tackles (40 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Billings was named the Bears 2025 Ed Block Courage Award winner and was Chicago’s 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
The 31-year old Billings has 191 tackles (107 solo), 28 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits and one forced fumble in 109 career games (90 starts). He has played with the Bears (2023-25), Raiders (2022), Browns (2021) and Bengals (2016-19) in his career after entering the league with Cincinnati as a fourth-round draft pick (122nd overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft from Baylor.
What is interesting is that Gibbens and Billings both played in starter roles at times, so will they be here to work as rotational pieces or more?
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