Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald set to move up all-time receiving list
By Tyler Olson
Arizona Cardinals all-time great wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is set to move up receiving record lists in 2017.
The great career of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is set to continue for a 14th season this fall. Already supplanting himself in NFL history as one of the best to ever play the position, he’s set himself up to close in on records that seem unfathomable to even the best of athletes.
Fortunately, he chose to return for, at least, one more season in Arizona. He’s one of the most humble receivers in the league, a fan favorite not only amongst Cardinals fans, but throughout the entire NFL fanbase. No matter which team’s colors you sport on Sunday afternoon, you often find yourself cheering for the former Pittsburgh Panther.
When you think of the best receivers in NFL history, your mind immediately thinks of Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, recently retired Steve Smith, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Cris Carter. You can also include Tony Gonzalez, even if he was a tight end, due to his exploits as a pass-catcher.
You also think of Fitzgerald. He continues to chase all of the NFL greats and he’s set himself up to pass multiple former greats in a couple different receiving categories this season. Prior to the start of the 2017 season, he ranks third in receptions (1,125), ninth in receiving yards (14,389) and eighth in receiving touchdowns (104).
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With exception to receptions, Fitzgerald has an opportunity this season to move himself higher on each list. He needs just 904 yards to move from ninth-to-third in all-time receiving yards, which would put him behind Owens (15,934) and Rice (22,985). Add a 15th season to his resume and second overall is a realistic possibility.
The all-time receptions record is out of the question, trailing Gonzales by 200. He does, however, have an opportunity to leapfrog Gonzalez and Antonio Gates on the all-time touchdown list. Both Gonzalez and Gates both have 111. Passing both would put Fitzgerald sixth all time on the leaderboard.
By the end of 2017 you could see Fitzgerald ranked third in receptions and receiving yards and sixth in touchdowns. While that’s something to be proud of, there’s only one thing he cares to be referred to as: Super Bowl Champion.
A chance to win the Super Bowl is what continues to motivate Fitzgerald. If it wasn’t for a terrific Santonio Holmes catch in 2009, he would’ve had one and possibly would’ve hung the cleats up sooner. And if not for a horrible effort by the Cardinals in the 2015 NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers, he may have won two seasons ago and we wouldn’t be talking about his receiving records today.
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My gut feeling says 2017 is the final campaign for Fitzgerald, Super Bowl or not. He enters his 14th season hungry as he was as a Rookie in 2004 so expect big things out of the veteran.