Larry Fitzgerald is still at the top of his game, but he's reportedly set to call it quits. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the star wideout is expecting to retire at the end of the season.
Larry Fitzgerald reportedly expects to retire at end of season
If Fitzgerald is hanging it up, he’ll go down as one of the most productive receivers ever.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
There are conflicting reports, though. Fitzgerald inked a one-year contract extension with the Cardinals just last month and ESPN’s Adam Schefter says that the receiver has “no plans” of hanging up his cleats after the season.
Fitzgerald, 33, has been one of the most productive receivers in the league since the Arizona Cardinals selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He's caught at least 90 catches on six occasions and has led the league in touchdown receptions twice. In fact, Fitzgerald is just two touchdowns shy of becoming the 10th receiver of all time to reach the 100-touchdown catch plateau.
In addition to his regular season dominance, Fitzgerald has been a force in the playoffs. In the 2008 NFC Championship, he became the first player in history to catch three touchdown passes in the first half of in a conference championship game. Last season, he defeated the Green Bay Packers all by himself in the Divisional round, catching a 75-yard pass to open up overtime and scoring the game-winning touchdown two plays later.
After seeing his production decline from 2011-14 — Fitzgerald caught 63 passes in ‘14, his lowest total since his rookie campaign — he experienced a renaissance last season once he moved into the slot on a more regular basis. The nine-time Pro Bowler reeled in 109 catches in 2015 and found the end zone nine times as well.
If Fitzgerald is planning to walk away after this season, the Cardinals' Super Bowl quest becomes more urgent. At 36 years old, Carson Palmer remains one of the best quarterbacks in the game, but his time left under center may be limited as well.
It seems like now or never if the Cardinals want to bring a Super Bowl home to the desert.
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