Larry Fitzgerald hasn't retired, but the future Hall of Fame wide receiver doesn't appear likely to play early in the 2021 season, if at all.
Currently a free agent, the 37-year-old was recently asked if he plans to play during an episode of his radio show with Jim Gray on Sirius XM Mad Dog Sports Radio:
“For now, I’ll be a radio broadcaster,” Fitzgerald said. “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.”
Fitzgerald was selected with the No. 3 overall pick out of Pittsburgh in the 2004 NFL Draft, and has spent all 17 years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. However, the Cardinals seemingly filled the veteran wide receiver role by signing seven-time Pro Bowler A.J. Green in March, adding him to a group of pass catchers that also includes DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk.
The signing of Green -- who was underwhelming in his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals -- doesn't slam the door shut on Fitzgerald returning, but seemingly it wouldn't have happened if the Cardinals thought that the greatest player in the history of their franchise planned to play in 2021.
If Fitzgerald has played in his final game, he'll finish second in NFL history in career receiving yards with 17,492, which trails only Jerry Rice.
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