49ers, Fitzgerald to meet again — for the last time?
Larry Fitzgerald will play his 32nd game against the 49ers on Sunday, which is two full NFL seasons and more games than 24 members of the 49ers have played in their career.
The Cardinals wide receiver played his first game against the 49ers on Oct. 10, 2004, when 49ers rookie Nick Bosa was 6 years old, President George W. Bush was running for reelection against Sen. John Kerry and the iPhone was three years removed from its debut.
Yes, Fitzgerald vs. the 49ers is one of the NFL’s longestrunning series. And its final episode could air Sunday at Levi’s Stadium: Fitzgerald, 36, in his 16th NFL season, is in the yeartoyear stage of his career and will decide in the offseason if he’ll play in his third decade in 2020.
“I hope not, man,” said 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman when asked about possibly facing his longtime rival for the final time. “Larry means a lot to this game, and the game will be worse if he’s not in it. … He’s made a huge impact through generations. I’m sure he’s played (against) somebody’s father and also
their son.”
Fitzgerald was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2016 for his extensive philanthropic work, but 49ers fans might have a lessthanfavorable view of one of the league’s most beloved ambassadors.
Fitzgerald has more catches (177), yards (2,344) and touchdowns (18) against the 49ers than any player in NFL history. His 11 100yard games against the 49ers match Jerry Rice (against the Falcons) for the most by any player against any team. And his yardage total is third behind Rice (vs. Falcons and Rams) for the most by any player against any team.
Fitzgerald’s pergame statistics against the 49ers would translate to 91 catches for 1,209 yards and nine touchdowns over a 16game season. In other words: a slightly aboveaverage season for the 11time Pro Bowl selection who ranks second in NFL history to Rice in career catches (1,353) and receiving yards (16,835).
“When I first got in the league — and I still feel this way — that’s the team you always want to beat,” Fitzgerald said to Arizona reporters this week of playing the 49ers. “They have the most championships out of anyone in our division. The most Hall of Famers. You think about the players that have come through that organization — from Jerry Rice and Joe Montana. Ronnie Lott. Charles Haley. You can go down the list of dominant firstballot Hall of Fame talent that’s gone through there.”
Of course, Fitzgerald will join those players in Canton as soon as he’s eligible.
His elite ability has always been obvious: He was the No. 3 pick in 2004 and led the NFL in catches in his second season when he was 22.
Now, however, in the latter stages of his career, his longevity and consistency is what causes many to marvel. Fitzgerald, who has missed six games in his career, is one of seven of the 255 players drafted in 2004 who are still active. Jerricho Cotchery, the wide receiver from that draft who had the secondlongest career, last played in 2015.
“I’ve got mad respect for Larry,” said 49ers wide receiver Emmnauel Sanders, 32, who is in his 10th season. “… I set my goals to get to year 10. But I look at Larry and ... I pray that someday I can play as long as he’s played.”
Fitzgerald has played as long in the NFL as 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has coached in the league: Shanahan was a rookie quality control coach in Tampa Bay in 2004. Fitzgerald is older than eight 49ers assistant coaches, including former NFL wide receiver Miles Austin, 35.
“Just how long he’s done it,” said Shanahan when asked about Fitzgerald’s most impressive quality. “I mean, every year people want to say ‘All right, he’s going to lose a step and not going to be able to play anymore.’ It’s very hard once receivers get older and they lose a little bit, but Larry hasn’t lost much. I mean, of course he’s not the exact same speed he was when he came out, but he is such an amazing football player that every year he looks the same to me.”
From ages 32 to 34, Fitzgerald averaged 108.3 catches a season. Last year, he had 8 catches for 102 yards and a key fourthquarter touchdown in a 1815 win over the 49ers. This season, he’s on pace for 80 catches and his two 100yard games match the total of the 49ers’ wide receiver corps.
So maybe he won’t be calling it quits after 2019. Still, Fitzgerald was asked this week to reflect on the team he’s often tormented through the years.
“They’re a great organization with five (Super Bowls) — one of the most storied organizations in the league,” Fitzgerald said. “Any time you get a chance to play them, it’s always an honor.”