Larry Fitzgerald returning for 16th season with Cardinals on 1-year deal

by Michael McClymont
Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Larry Fitzgerald isn't ready to hang up his cleats.

The 35-year-old receiver signed a one-year deal to return to the Arizona Cardinals for the 2019 season, the team announced Wednesday morning.

It will be the future Hall of Famer's 16th season, all of which have been spent with the Cardinals.

"No player has meant more to this franchise or this community than Larry Fitzgerald," team president Michael Bidwill said in a statement. "In my discussions with him, it was clear that he is as driven and passionate as ever. We are thrilled he'll be back in 2019."

Fitzgerald has played the last two seasons on one-year, $11-million contracts. He agreed to return for the 2018 season despite the departure of longtime head coach Bruce Arians and the hiring of rookie coach Steve Wilks.

Playing predominately with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen under center, Arizona finished the year with the worst record in the league at 3-13 and will pick first in April's draft.

Wilks was fired after the season and replaced by Kliff Kingsbury, who also enters without any previous NFL head coaching experience.

Fitzgerald continues to be the focal point of the Cards' passing offense, as he led the team in receptions (69), receiving yards (734), and touchdown catches (six) in 2018.

The veteran ranks third all-time in career catches with 1,303. He'll likely surpass 2019 Hall of Fame candidate Tony Gonzalez (1,325) for second on the list this upcoming season. Hall of Famer Jerry Rice holds the record at 1,549.

Fitzgerald is also second all-time in receiving yards (16,279), behind only Rice (22,895).

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