There is so much more than pure ability that results in players succeeding in the National Football League, and that’s a big reason why the Arizona Cardinals signed wide receiver Michael Wilson to a contract that will tie him to the team through the 2029 season.
As head coach Mike LaFleur said Thursday shortly after Wilson signed a three-year extension, “This is a special player who I don't even think's even come close to reaching how good he could be, and he knows the way he works, the way he goes about it.
“He has a growth mindset every single day. He's about process. He's just about all the right things that you want in a football player on top of being an incredible human being.”
That, more than anything, is why the Cardinals agreed to pay
him $75 million in new money for the three years added on to his rookie deal that was set to expire after this season.
“It’s knowing what we feel like he can do in this offense on Sunday,” LaFleur said. “He’s the perfect example of don't mistake his kindness for weakness. This dude is a tough dude.”
It was all evident when the always-revealing Wilson spoke to the media. He knows everything in life is about relationships, whether it’s with his team, his family or the guy who believed in him as he struggled through injury-filled seasons at Stanford when he played only 14 games in his final three years. It’s all important to Michael Wilson.
His press conference began when he was asked about his words earlier in the offseason when he said he wasn’t going to let any contract talks take over his mind. Was he able to do that?
Before answering the question, he said, “Yeah, I want to make an opening statement and then we can (answer questions). First and foremost, I want to go ahead and thank (owner) Michael Bidwill, (general manager) Monti (Ossenfort), head coach Mike LaFleur for believing in me and getting this deal done. As I've been saying since I've been here, like I love everything about this organization. Love everything about Michael, love everything about Monti, Mike. And I'm just elated and have so much gratitude to just everyone from prior coaches. I know JG's not here anymore, but he was a coach that drafted me. Drew Petzing, my receiver coach Drew Terrell, and just all the staff and teammates that I've had. This is the culmination of everyone believing me and pouring into me.
“I don't know really what to say, but just extremely humble, so much gratitude. For me, I don't look at this as the end. This is the beginning of something great. And (with) our first game in nine or 10 days, I'm going to sit on this probably for 24 hours. But I definitely don't want to get too high and think about the deal, because come next Sunday, no one's going to care about the deal. And so my focus is going to be on continuing to put out a great product both individually but also as a team and doing whatever I can to help the organization win games and play a large role in that. So just from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to just the entire organization and the fan base for having so much support for me.”
Asked whether this was like a weight off his shoulders and what his feelings were like when the deal got done, Wilson’s thoughts turned to his immediate family.
“Great,” he said. “My daughter's (Gianna) here. (Pro soccer star and wife) Sophia was able to bring her. She's been staying with me this entire week. Every time she's here, she's like my little good luck charm. Her first birthday was on Monday. So it's just been a great week. And so just to be able to look my mom in the eye and my daughter in the eye and know that my daughter's going to be taken care of for the rest of her life is extremely humbling and a gratifying feeling.
“I feel like, at least from the financial side, I've fulfilled one of my duties as a provider and caretaker of my daughter.”
Referencing the 24 hours he mentioned, Wilson got more introspective when he was asked if he will have the chance to look back and reflect on the injuries he overcame, was able to go to Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl and it’s now at this point in his career.
“Yeah, 24 hours, my dad's actually flying in town,” Wilson said. “It starts 50 years before the Senior Bowl. My dad came from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Grew up with a schizophrenic mom, came here when he was 18. Was a construction worker for 35 years. He probably won't want me to say this, but he's never made over $100,000 in his entire life. And my mom was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. Came here in her mid-20s to pursue a nursing career. So I think it starts at their story, right? Two immigrants came here. My mom still to this day doesn't know much about football. To be honest, she really doesn't like me playing football still. She's a nervous wreck during the season.
“So this is a big win for the entire Wilson family and starting back from their story. I don't think if my dad could go back to my age at 26, he would (think he’d) have a son playing in the NFL. Same thing; I don't think my mom knew what American football was when she was 25, 26. So this is a big win for them and for their story, more so honestly than mine. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to achieve what I have.”
Then there’s former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who Wilson trained with during his college career. It was more than just physical. Houshmandzadeh also worked on Wilson’s head, convincing him what he needed to do mentally to succeed.
"I had to show him I believed in him, before he believed in himself," Houshmandzadeh told azcardinals.com after Wilson was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft.
He also said, "I never charged Mike a dollar. I just helped him. I told Mike, 'If you stay committed and you train with me, I guaran(expletive)tee you you'll be drafted in the second or third round.'
"Even in December (after his final college season), his agent called me and said, 'Mike has an undrafted grade.' I said, 'Listen, I'm going to get him into the Senior Bowl, and a guarantee he'll be the best receiver there and I guarantee he'll go in the second or third round.' I've trained other receivers … and Mike was better than all of them."
Wilson said then, "I think sometimes, as young men, we need a mentor who has done what we are trying to do. And that's what T.J. is."
When a reporter mentioned Houshmandzadeh to him Thursday, Wilson said, “He's been a pinnacle point of support in my career. And I don't know that I'd be sitting in this chair had our paths not crossed. A lot of people didn't think I should have got the Senior Bowl invite. Because there's a lot of people that said, ‘I don't see it.’
“He was a big advocate in saying prior to the Senior Bowl, ‘No, Mike can play. He just needs to get his foot in the door.’ And so it feels good to, years later, of prove him right.
Finally, talk again returned to his family when Wilson was asked if there would be any big celebration.
The humble Wilson said, “Think my dad's probably gonna cook some dinner tonight; home-cooked meal. But the best celebration for me is just being able get some quality time with my little girl before the madness starts. And so we'll probably just stay at home, have some apple cider, a little steak, salmon, and get a couple kisses from her. It will be great.”
That is the quintessential Michael Wilson.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Michael Wilson's contract extension is more than about his play
