Lyndell Santrell Wilson Sr. is an American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and entered the league in 2019 after a decorated collegiate career that included a College Football Playoff national championship.
Wilson emerged from Montgomery, Alabama, as one of the most sought-after defensive prospects in the country. Five-star recruit status followed him through his senior year at George Washington Carver High School, and his commitment to the University of Alabama aligned with a rising dynasty program. His selection in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft reflected a steady, productive three-year run at the college level and a readiness to compete at the sport’s highest level.
Path to NFL
Wilson chose the University of Alabama out of high school and quickly established himself as a reliable contributor on Nick Saban’s staff. As a true freshman in 2016, he appeared in all 15 games and recorded eight tackles for a Crimson Tide team stacked with talent across the defensive side of the ball. That initial season of college football gave him the seasoning and physicality needed to grow into a larger role.
His sophomore campaign in 2017 was a turning point, as Wilson appeared in 12 games with two starts, accumulated 40 tackles, and contributed four interceptions and one touchdown. The Alabama Crimson Tide captured the College Football Playoff national championship that same season, and Wilson was part of the roster that secured the program’s sixth title under Saban. His on-field production earned increasing responsibility from the coaching staff and positioned him as a cornerstone of the secondary and linebacker corps.
Wilson completed his junior year in 2018 with his most productive single season to date, posting 71 tackles, one sack, and two interceptions across 13 games. His combination of coverage ability and run support made him an attractive mid-round prospect, and his Second-team All-Southeastern Conference recognition that year underscored his standing among the conference’s elite defenders. Wilson decided to forgo his senior season at Alabama and entered the 2019 NFL draft, betting on his tape to carry him into professional football.
Lyndell Santrell Wilson Sr. Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
The Cleveland Browns selected Wilson in the fifth round with the 155th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He immediately established himself as a rotational and starting presence in a Cleveland defensive unit, appearing in all 16 games as a rookie and starting 14 of them. In Week 9 of his debut season against the Denver Broncos, Wilson recorded a team-high five tackles and recorded his first career sack on quarterback Brandon Allen.
Wilson’s rookie year produced one sack, 82 total tackles, one interception, seven passes defended, and one forced fumble across 16 games, a strong statistical output for a fifth-round selection. In the Week 15 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, he caught his first career interception off a pass thrown by fellow rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. His 2020 season saw 39 total tackles and two passes defended across 13 games with eight starts, and he finished 2021 with 42 total tackles in 14 games with six starts, maintaining his value as a reliable off-ball linebacker over three seasons in Cleveland.
New England Patriots Era (2022–2023)
On March 16, 2022, the Cleveland Browns traded Wilson to the New England Patriots in exchange for outside linebacker Chase Winovich. Wilson appeared in all 17 games in his first season with the Patriots, starting three games and finishing with 1.5 sacks, 36 total tackles, one pass defended, and one forced fumble. The move represented an opportunity to grow in a Patriots defensive scheme that has historically developed linebackers with long, productive careers.
On March 20, 2023, Wilson re-signed with the Patriots on a one-year contract extension. That season, he improved his pass-rush numbers, finishing with 3.5 sacks, 37 total tackles, including 24 solo tackles, and three passes defended. His 2023 campaign demonstrated greater comfort and effectiveness in the Patriots’ system, and the year-long tenure in New England contributed to the development of his coverage skills and run-defense technique.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
On March 14, 2024, Wilson signed a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, a move that gave him the opportunity to start at linebacker in a Cardinals defense rebuilding around younger talent. He started all 16 games for Arizona in the 2024 season, recording 75 combined tackles, three sacks, one interception, five pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. Wilson became a reliable, durable presence in the heart of the Cardinals’ front seven.
Wilson began the 2025 season as one of the Arizona Cardinals’ starting linebackers and produced strong numbers through Week 9, recording one interception, six pass deflections, one forced fumble, and 60 combined tackles across eight starts. Against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9, Wilson suffered a rib injury that sidelined him, and the Cardinals placed him on injured reserve on November 15, 2025. The Cardinals contract, which runs through the 2027 season, reflects the team’s confidence in his health and long-term production.
Playing Style and Strengths
Wilson is a physical off-ball linebacker who brings versatility to the run game and the passing game. His coverage production — including three career interceptions and 24 pass deflections — shows the range of a player trusted in space against running backs and slot receivers, while his nine career sacks reflect his ability as a blitzer. Wilson earned Second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors during his junior season at Alabama, a recognition of his skill set, football IQ, and competitive drive.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wilson’s college career reached its highest point as a member of the 2017 Alabama Crimson Tide team that won the College Football Playoff national championship. He became the first player in franchise history to record a sack as a Cleveland Browns rookie in his first season and contributed to each of his three teams as a reliable starter, appearing in every game he was eligible to play during his 2022 season with the New England Patriots. Wilson’s first career interception came in Week 15 of his rookie season against the Arizona Cardinals, and the team he eventually joined as a free agent two years later.
Lyndell Santrell Wilson Sr. Career Wins and Statistics
Wilson has established himself as a durable, contributing linebacker across three NFL teams and has appeared in multiple seasons with consistent production in tackles, pass deflections, and situational play-making. His statistics as of the 2025 season reflect a career built on availability, work rate, and versatility across all phases of the linebacker role.
NFL Highlights
Wilson has appeared in every full season of his NFL career, missing only time due to injury late in 2025. He recorded his first career sack in Week 9 of his rookie 2019 season against the Denver Broncos and his first interception in Week 15 of that same season against the Arizona Cardinals. His 2024 season with the Cardinals produced 75 combined tackles and three sacks across all 16 starts, marking one of his most productive individual campaigns.
Other Achievements
Wilson earned CFP national champion honors with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2017 and was named to the Second-team All-SEC in 2018. As a rookie linebacker from the fifth round of the draft, Wilson started 14 games and finished his debut season with 82 total tackles, numbers that reflected a smooth transition from the Southeastern Conference to the NFL.
| Team | Years | Games Played | Tackles | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 2019–2021 | 43 | 163 | 3 |
| New England Patriots | 2022–2023 | 34 | 73 | 5 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 2024–2025 | 24 | 135 | 3 |
Lyndell Santrell Wilson Sr. Family and Personal Life
Early Life and Background
Wilson was born on February 14, 1998, in Montgomery, Alabama, and attended George Washington Carver High School, where his five-star recruiting profile attracted national interest from college football programs. Growing up in Montgomery, Wilson developed his football skills in a city with a deep tradition of producing high-caliber football talent. His choice of the University of Alabama connected him to a program that consistently competes for national championships and develops NFL-caliber defenders.
At Alabama, Wilson played college football from 2016 through 2018, entering the 2019 NFL draft after his junior season. His college résumé — a national championship, second-team all-conference recognition, and 119 career tackles — made him an attractive professional prospect and positioned him to be selected in the 2019 NFL draft.
Personal Life
Wilson is known by the nickname “Mack” throughout his football career, a moniker given to him during his childhood in Montgomery. His Instagram account is publicly available at the handle @mackwilsr, and he has maintained a professional social media presence alongside his NFL career. No spouse, children, or additional family details are publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Wilson entered the 2025 season as a returning starter for the Arizona Cardinals under a three-year contract extension running through the 2027 season. The Cardinals counted on Wilson as a durable and physical presence at linebacker, and he started eight games at the position before a rib injury against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 sidelined him. His eight-start season through Week 9 produced one interception, six pass deflections, one forced fumble, and 60 combined tackles, numbers consistent with his role as an every-down linebacker.
The Cardinals placed Wilson on injured reserve on November 15, 2025, ending his regular-season contributions for the year. His recovery timeline and return availability for postseason play or 2026 remain the focus of the Cardinals’ medical and coaching staffs. Wilson’s 2024 season with the Cardinals, in which he started all 16 games with 75 tackles, three sacks, one interception, and five pass deflections, remains the most recent full NFL season of his career and a baseline for evaluating his contributions to the team moving forward.