Larry Fitzgerald uncertain about playing in 2021

Pitt great and longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald became a free agent for the first time in his career in March, and with two months left until the start of the 2021 season, he remains unattached to any of the NFL’s 32 teams. On Friday, he revealed that that could remain the case, as he is undecided on whether he will play or not in 2021.

“I haven’t decided anything,” Fitzgerald said in an interview with ESPN. “Training camp starts in a few weeks. I’m excited. It’s going to be another great year for the NFL.”

Fitzgerald is set to turn 38 on Aug. 31, and if he returns, it would be his 18th season in the league. It is also unclear if he still has a roster spot awaiting him in Arizona, as the Cardinals bolstered their receiving corps by signing NFL veteran A.J. Green and spending a second-round draft pick on Purdue star Rondale Moore. In addition, Fitzgerald is coming off the least productive season of his career, as he had 409 yards on 54 receptions in 2020.

Should Fitzgerald decide to play in 2021, he would likely be able to find a new team if the Cardinals were unwilling to bring him back, as he is one of the most sure-handed pass-catchers the league has ever seen. Notably, Fitzgerald has more tackles than drops in his career, with 41 tackles to 29 drops.

And should Fitzgerald instead decide to call it a career and retire, he would end his 17-year tenure in the NFL second only to Jerry Rice in career receptions and receiving yards, with 17,492 yards on 1,432 catches. As such, he would be a lock for the Hall of Fame upon his eventual eligibility for enshrinement.