Wide receiver Andre Baccellia hasn’t been elevated or signed to the active roster yet this season, but that doesn’t change the way he approaches his job each week on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad and working on the scout team during practice.
That resulted in being named the Pat Tillman Scout-Team Player of the Week for his work preparing for the Detroit Lions. It’s the second time he’s won the award after being the first Cardinals player to earn it in 2023.
Notably, only seven of the winners last season are currently under contract to the Cardinals.
The winner each week wears a No. 40 Pat Tillman jersey in practice.
Head coach Jonatha Gannon, who makes the final decision, said, “He had a good week last week obviously. He does a really good job.”
“It’s a great honor,” Baccellia said. “Obviously, (it’s important) JG bringing that whole situation to light, shining a light on it of who Pat was as a person.”
Baccellia said he’s learned “more each day” about Tillman’s legacy since coming to the Cardinals in 2021. Tillman’s locker has been preserved in the hall near the locker room and Baccellia referred to it as “a shrine.”
As for what he thought he did to earn the award, Baccellia said, “I stick to the same process every week, but I guess making a few extra plays and doing something that stands out to the coaching staff will earn you that recognition.”
Baccellia is the epitome of perseverance and doing his job, while understanding his role. During the last two seasons, he’s been involved in 26 transactions going back and forth from the practice squad to the active roster.
In 2022, he played eight games and it was five last season. He’s accepted the uncertainty of when an elevation or being signed to the roster might happen.
“It’s exciting,” he insisted. “I think like a lot of people talk about the NFL as being exhilarating and cut-throat and all these different words and I’ve experienced all of those terms. But at the end of the day, I’m extremely grateful for just the opportunity, whether that’s practice squad, active, 90-man roster (in the offseason). Whatever it is, I’m extremely grateful, but at the same time it’s a lot of unknowns with a little bit of adrenaline. All those things, but it’s fun.”
Gannon often mentions to the media the emphasis he places on the importance of practice-squad players and scout-team work. When told that, Baccellia said, “One hundred percent. And some of the young guys that come in, I’ve told them make sure you’re ready every week; that you know the game plan. You’re preparing mentally that you’re gonna play because it could happen. Friday evening could roll around and they’re gonna give you a call and say, ‘Hey, you’re gonna play on Sunday,’ so be ready.”
In late August, after Baccellia was cut and brought back to the practice squad, Gannon was asked what stands out about the 27-year-old. He said, “The first thing is, is he’s a team-first guy. Always positive, always working on his game. But he has a role for us. There’s a reason why he’s on the practice squad. He can play on fourth down. He can play three spots. He goes in the game, does his job and plays well. There’s a reason he’s here. I’m glad he’s here.”
One of his closest friends on the team is wide receiver Michael Wilson, who said the day after the cut to 53 players, “Not having Andre in the building yesterday with cuts happening (was tough). He’s one of my best friends. Our hometowns (in California) are like 15 minutes from each other. I’m from Simi Valley. He’s from the Thousand Oaks/West Lake area, so we both have 805 area codes on our phones. One of the best guys I’ve ever met in the football locker room, from being at Stanford, high school, NFL. He’s a guy that truly deserves everything he gets because he works hard and he’s earned the trust of everyone.
“To go undrafted and play, that’s extremely hard. That doesn’t happen by accident. You have to prepare at a certain level. You have to perform at a certain level. So I think he just finds a way to stick even though he’s undersized, which makes it hard statistically for receivers when you’re under 5-11. But he’s a truly special guy and it’s just not the same when he’s not here. So I’m so happy that he’s back on the practice squad and I’m sure if guys gets nicked up during the season, hopefully he’ll get an active call. But I’m so happy that he’s here.”
And now, Baccellia is happy with another Tillman Award, but will be even more pleased when that next promotion to the game-day roster occurs.
One thing is for sure: He’ll be ready.
2024 Pat Tillman Award Winners
Week 1: RB Michael Carter
Week 2: LB Markus Bailey
Week 3: WR Andre Baccellia
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