Bruce Arians recruited Larry Fitzgerald last season

Fitzgerald declined to join the Bucs during the 2021-22 season. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arians recruited WR Larry Fitzgerald after Buccaneers lost Chris Godwin to injury in 2021

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/6/22

Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald only played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2004 through the 2020 season before he sat out the entire 2021 campaign but certainly is no stranger to now-former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians and current Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady.

Arians served as Fitzgerald's head coach from 2013 through 2017, and "Larry Legend" has long been friendly with Brady, so much so that the two share a SiriusXM show and podcast along with broadcaster Jim Gray.

Arians and Brady were attempting to repeat as Super Bowl champions this past December when Tampa Bay star receiver Chris Godwin suffered a season-ending torn ACL before Christmas. During a Wednesday appearance on 98.7 FM Arizona's Sports Station, Arians admitted he reached out to Fitzgerald about ending what was, at the time, hoped to be a break away from football when he was a free agent:

Interesting to hear Bruce Arians on Arizona Sports 98.7-FM just now on the Wolf & Luke Show say he reached out to Larry Fitzgerald this past season when Chris Godwin got hurt. Fitz told him he "couldn't run two plays right now" if he tried. Thanks, but no thanks. Wow.
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) April 6, 2022

Bruce Arians tried to recruit future HOFer Larry Fitzgerald to sign with the #Bucs during their playoff run last year when Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin were out but Fitz declined because he didn't feel he could play at that point. [@AZSports]pic.twitter.com/AkGvzYyN8P
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 6, 2022

Fitzgerald repeatedly declined to officially retire during episodes of his SiriusXM program last fall, but the 38-year-old seemed to close the door on a potential return in February.

"I had a great run. It was fun. I wouldn't change anything," Fitzgerald said of his career at that time.

One can't help but imagine Fitzgerald catching passes thrown by Brady during at least one playoff contest, but it appears such highlights will occur only in editions of "Madden" video games.

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