Larry Fitzgerald Expects to Retire After the 2016 Season

According to media reports and people close to Larry Fitzgerald, the wide receiver is anticipating the 2016 season to be his last

Just as the Arizona Cardinals prepare to face the Brady-less New England Patriots to start their season, the fanbase is rocked with some heartbreaking news regarding a fan favorite.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport says people close to Fitzgerald have been told 2016 will be his last season.

Fitzgerald turned 33-years-old in August, and is entering his 13th season, all with the Arizona Cardinals.

Drafted with the third overall pick out of Pittsburgh in 2004, Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the biggest stars in the NFL. His nine Pro Bowl selections are the second-most among active NFL players entering this season. Twice he has led the NFL in receiving touchdowns, and had a league-high 103 receptions in 2005.

Last season, Fitzgerald set a career-high with 109 receptions.

With 98 career touchdowns, Fitzgerald is knocking on the NFL’s all-time top 10 list. His 13,366 receiving yards are the 15th most in NFL history, and with a healthy season he can easily pass Cris Carter and James Lofton to enter the top 10 all-time.

Arizona has stocked-up on young playmakers in anticipation of Fitzgerald’s pending retirement. John Brown, Michael Floyd, and David Johnson are budding stars in the NFL, and are the next generation of Arizona Cardinal greats.

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Fitzgerald hopes to walk away from the game on-top, just as Peyton Manning did last season in Denver. The wide receiver has only made the playoffs in four seasons, and hasn’t won a Super Bowl in his NFL career. Arizona fell to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII after a last-minute touchdown sealed the Steelers comeback.