The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were unable to successfully defend their Super Bowl title in 2021, as they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. Injuries certainly played into Tampa Bay's early postseason exit. They also forced former head coach Bruce Arians to try and enact a backup plan.
During a Wednesday appearance on 98.7 Arizona Sports, Arians was asked if he ever tried to recruit legendary wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to Tampa Bay. Arians admitted he did reach out to Fitz when Chris Godwin tore his ACL in Week 15, but the 38-year-old apparently said he wasn't in football shape.
Bruce Arians tried to recruit Larry Fitzgerald to play for the #Buccaneers last season. #RedSea #NFL @WolfandLuke pic.twitter.com/v7SZ2cskk5
— 98.7 Arizona Sports (@AZSports) April 6, 2022
"I called Fitz and he said, 'Coach, I couldn't run two plays right now, but thanks,'" Arians said with a laugh.
Arians coached Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals for five seasons from 2013-17. During that time, Fitzgerald set career highs in receptions with 109 passes caught in 2015 and 2017, and 107 passes caught in 2016.
Fitzgerald is currently second on the all-time receiving list in both yards and receptions behind Jerry Rice with 17,492 career receiving yards on 1,432 receptions. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer sat out the 2021 season, but hasn't officially retired just yet.
"I had a great run. It was fun. I wouldn't change anything," Fitzgerald said in February, via ESPN. "I wish I could have delivered more for the Valley in terms of winning a championship, but that's water under the bridge at this point."
