ARIZONA CARDINALS

Larry Fitzgerald on football future: ‘I just don’t have the urge to play’

Aug 20, 2021, 12:16 PM | Updated: 2:50 pm

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by Washington Football Team corner...

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by Washington Football Team cornerback Jimmy Moreland (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

(AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Free agent receiver Larry Fitzgerald said on his new SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio show with Jim Gray that he does not have an itch to return for his 18th NFL season but did not rule out a return to the field this season.

“For now, I’ll be a radio broadcaster,” Fitzgerald said on Let’s Go. “To be honest with you, I just don’t have the urge to play right now. I don’t know how I’ll feel in September, October, November moving forward, but as of today I just don’t have the urge.

“I think I have to be respectful of that. Football is not one of those games you want to walk out there and play and not be fully engaged and ready to prepare and do the things necessary that you need to do.”

The full interview will air at 3 p.m. MST on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio channel.

Fitzgerald, who has played 17 seasons, is already a shoo-in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame with a career that has seen him lead the league in receptions twice, record nine 1,000-yard seasons, earn 11 Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro selection, win the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and record a whopping 942 receiving yards in just nine career playoff games.

He enters 2021 with 17,492 career receiving yards, second all-time behind only Jerry Rice (22,895). The Cardinals legend also ranks second all-time behind Rice (1,549) with 1,432 receptions and is sixth in receiving touchdowns (121).

Fitzgerald finished 2020 with a career-low 409 receiving yards and a single touchdown. He made 54 catches on 72 targets from quarterback Kyler Murray.

Fitzgerald was inactive in the 2020 season finale, an 18-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, due to a groin injury. The game marked the first missed outing because of an injury since 2014, though Fitzgerald did miss two more games last season on the COVID-19 reserve list.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray...

Arizona Sports

Kyler Murray, fans react to Marvin Harrison Jr. becoming a Cardinal

Marvin Harrison Jr. now teams with Kyler Murray after he was the fourth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Murray approves.

44 minutes ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: MASERATI MARV IT IS! Reaction to the Arizona Cardinals drafting Marvin Harrison Jr.

Wolf, Gambo and our hosts out at the BetMGM sportsbook approve of the Marvin Harrison Jr. pick. Arizona Sports' NFL Draft coverage is presented by BetMGM and Bud Light.

54 minutes ago

Marvin Harrison Jr. smiles...

Damon Allred

Cardinals fans may have to wait for Marvin Harrison Jr. jerseys going on sale

Now that the Cardinals picked Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft, fans might have to wait a little to get jerseys.

56 minutes ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Reaction to Marvin Harrison Jr. getting selected by the Arizona Cardinals

Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Subscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1x Read articles from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/ Download the Arizona Sports app: https://arizonasports.com/the-arizona-sports-98-7-fm-app/ Sign up for texts from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/text-alerts/ Listen live to Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/listen-live/ Follow the team: https://bit.ly/3R0PIAJ ARIZONA SPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaSports/ X: https://x.com/azsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arizonasports987 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arizsports/ ARIZONA SPORTS PODCASTS: https://arizonasports.com/category/podcasts/

1 hour ago

Marvin Harrison Jr. poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected fourth overall b...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals select Marvin Harrison Jr. with 4th pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals held at the No. 4 pick and selected Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft.

2 hours ago

Jayden Daniels...

Arizona Sports

Former Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels selected 2nd overall by Commanders in NFL Draft

Former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the No. 2 overall pick.

2 hours ago

Larry Fitzgerald on football future: ‘I just don’t have the urge to play’