Marvin Harrison Sr. doesn’t hold back on Cardinals offense: ‘It’s very hard for me to watch’

Marvin Harrison Sr. is not having a good time when it comes to watching his son operate within the Arizona Cardinals offense.

And it’s led to him not attending Cardinals games for the sake of his “mental capacity.”

“It’s very hard for me to watch the Cardinals’ offense,” Harrison Sr. told ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. “And you can quote me on that.”

Seven games in and Arizona staring at a 2-5 mark, it’s not hard to see why Harrison Sr. would be frustrated.

The Cardinals enter a Monday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys 23rd in passing yards (199.9), 22nd in total yards (199.9) and 22nd in points (21.9) per game.

Starting quarterback Kyler Murray hasn’t moved the needle like he should, with Jacoby Brissett looking like the better option with two starts — and two losses — under his belt. The run game, which the offense is built around, has been far from what it once was in the two seasons prior.

“The style of offense that I am accustomed to, that I’m used to watching as a professional eye, as a wide receiver … I just can’t relate to watching that [current] offense, that style of offense,” Harrison Sr. said of the Cardinals. “Basically, I can’t relate to what goes on there.

“I think that’s just peacefully put, without pointing fingers or anything. It’s just me. I’m giving you the professional eye. I can’t relate to it. It don’t add up to me. I can’t deal with it.”

Harrison Jr.’s short time with the Cardinals has failed to live up to the expectations put on the 2024 No. 4 overall pick out of Ohio State.

While he reeled in eight touchdowns as a rookie, Harrison Jr. looked out of sync behind 62 catches on 116 targets for 885 yards.

The lack of production has poured into this season, with Harrison Jr. recording 24 catches for 396 yards and two touchdowns through seven games played. He’s being outpaced by tight end Trey McBride in every category.

Harrison Jr. has only hit the 100-yard mark in two games in his career, both times in his rookie season.

In Harrison Sr.’s eyes, what the Cardinals offense is currently rolling out is not conducive to hitting the level many expect his son to reach.

“What I do know is you can put Marvin Harrison Sr., in my prime, in Arizona right now, and guess what (would happen)?” his father said. “(The Pro Football Hall of Fame) is going to send me a prepaid envelope and say, ‘Could you please send that jacket back?’ So, I’m not speaking for anyone. I’m speaking for me.

“I’m just telling you that jacket, they’d be sending a prepaid envelope. ‘Thanks for all your help, but send that jacket back, please.'”

While some of Harrison Jr.’s lack of production is tied to the Cardinals’ inability to consistently throw him the football or put together an efficient plan of attack, the receiver isn’t free from any blame.

Clearly, in his head as a rookie early on, Harrison’s growing pains were evident.

And while he took noticeable steps forward physically and mentally heading into Year 2, the play didn’t match up with the talk.

Among the biggest issues early on in 2025 for Harrison were the drops. More than halfway to his 2024 mark of five, the wideout has already had three drops on the season.

One of those resulted in an interception. The other two looked like touchdowns waiting to happen.

The issue has been corrected of late but shouldn’t be a focus for a team’s No. 1 wideout.

As for seeing more targets? Getting more vocal wouldn’t hurt, said the elder Harrison, who told Weinfuss he would demand more looks after a banner day.

“That’s how I am and that’s how my mentality is,” he added. “That’s why I am who I am. That doesn’t point the finger at no one.

“That’s the attitude you have to have in this league.”

Related

Kyler Murray missing golden opportunity to quiet the noise on Monday Night FootballCardinals' Walter Nolen III closing in on NFL debutThird time could very well be the charm for Cardinals' Jacoby Brissett vs. CowboysCardinals fully in quarterback controversy with another Jacoby Brissett startGannon: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray not starting on MNF vs. CowboysJacoby Brissett, Cardinals agree to new contract