Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald becomes youngest NFL player to reach 900 receptions
Dec 12, 2014, 3:46 AM | Updated: 3:17 pm
A routine reception had a very big meaning Thursday for Arizona Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald.
In the second quarter in St. Louis, quarterback Drew Stanton scrambled and found the veteran wide receiver on 3rd and 10 for 16 yards. It became the eight-time Pro Bowler’s 900th catch of his career.
Not only did Fitzgerald become the 18th NFL player ever to reach the 900-reception mark, but he became the youngest of the bunch to do so.
HISTORY! Larry Fitzgerald records his 900th career catch, becomes youngest player in NFL history with 900 receptions. pic.twitter.com/XwvBkGWB4D
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 12, 2014
Fitzgerald, who is a little over 31 years and 3 months of age, then made his 901st career catch on the very next play, this time for three yards.
The 11-year receiver is just one of five active players with 900 or more receptions, the others being Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne (1,061), Houston’s Andre Johnson (996), San Francisco’s Anquan Boldin (929), and Dallas’ Jason Witten (925). Baltimore’s Steve Smith is just behind Fitzgerald with 897 career catches.
Despite behind the youngest to reach the mark, Fitzgerald wasn’t able to do it in the fewest number of games. Marvin Harrison caught his 900th ball in his 149th NFL game, while Johnson did so in his 150th contest. It took Fitzgerald 168 games to get there, meaning he tied Jerry Rice for being the third-fastest player to reach the mark.
In addition to surpassing 900 receptions Thursday, Fitzgerald extended his streak of at least one reception to 161 games. Rice holds the NFL record with 274.
The Cardinals receiver finished the game with seven catches for 30 yards, his longest being the 16-yarder. Arizona beat St. Louis 12-6.
