At age 36 and in his 16th season, Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald still is producing like a No. 1 option.
“Man, I just always got a high level of respect,” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the Cardinals captain. “And I’m never surprised when I turn the tape on and watching him being a significant contributor to his team’s efforts, and it’s on this tape in 2019.”
Fitzgerald leads the Cardinals in receptions (61) and receiving yards (649) and is tied for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns. The oldest among the three wide receiver teammates who are behind him in receptions was in fourth grade when Fitzgerald had the first of his 1,364 career catches.
That number is second-most all-time behind Jerry Rice. Fitzgerald also trails only Rice in career receiving yards (16,298). His 119 receiving touchdowns rank sixth.
The on-field production is only part of what has made Fitzgerald a legend, dating back to his days at Pitt when he was a Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2003.
The Steelers play at Fitzgerald’s Cardinals on Sunday.
“We’ve just got a lot of respect for Larry,” Tomlin said, “not only in terms of what he’s capable of, but what he’s done, what he means for this game, the way he stands for the game of football, the example that he is for all of us in this business, and just us in general. He’s just a quality human being and a big-time competitor, a guy that’s got a gold jacket-like career.”
Fitzgerald is a sure-fire Hall of Famer at this point. As such, he’s been a mentor for many young receivers — including those on the Steelers.
“He’s definitely paved the way for guys like me and others who have those skillsets and can make those plays,” Steelers second-year receiver James Washington said. “He’s a guy (with a lot of) years experience, and he’s definitely put it on tape plenty of times making those catches.”
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