New Cardinals WR coach won't 'bother' Larry Fitzgerald on retirement decision

The Arizona Cardinals hired Shawn Jefferson as wide receivers coach last month at a time when they didn't know if receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the greatest offensive player in franchise history, will return for another season or ride off into the sunset of retired life. 

As Tyler Drake wrote for Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, Jefferson will let the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer inform everyone of his intentions when he sees fit. 

"When they announced that I accepted the job here, he texted me and said, ‘Hey coach, looking forward to meeting with you, talking with you,’ stuff like that," Jefferson said of Fitzgerald during a Zoom conference call. "That was the extent of our conversation so I have no insight of what’s he’s going to do, where he’s leaning, anything like that.

"But I thought it was very classy. He told me we’d find time to talk whenever he has time. This is the offseason period. I try not to bother guys. As we all know, this kid is the ultimate professional and I’m just looking forward to talking with him."

Fitzgerald found the end zone only once during the 2020 campaign, but the veteran of 17 NFL seasons finished the year second on the Cardinals with 54 receptions. At this stage of his life, it's widely assumed that the 11-time Pro Bowler is staying put in Arizona, either as a Cardinals player or as a retired living legend who won't have to wait long to hear from Pro Football Hall of Fame president and CEO C. David Baker.