Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has attempted to smooth over remarks he made last month on a podcast, which suggested that the team lacks a dedicated fan base in Arizona.
"I probably shouldn't have said that," McBride stated during his first media availability of training camp. "It came out wrong, and obviously the fan base is great. We have a tremendous fan base. Arizona's been here, loyal fans to all the sports teams here, and we're very lucky to have a lot of these guys."
McBride's initial comments, made on the podcast “Bussin’ with the Boys,” indicated that because many Arizona residents moved from other states, they tend to remain fans of their original teams. "Living in Arizona, no one's from Arizona," he had said. "Everyone has kind of moved in from another state, so they're all fans of their own teams, so now you have the Arizona that sits there and there's no Arizona fans in Arizona. So it's a tough deal. Hopefully, we start winning some games and we can bring some of those fans back."
During the podcast, co-host Taylor Lewan, an Arizona native, noted that he didn't see much Cardinals gear around the city until the team reached the Super Bowl in 2008. McBride's comments followed this observation.
McBride, 26, a Colorado native drafted by the Cardinals in the second round in 2022, has signed a four-year, $76 million contract extension. He has achieved consecutive Pro Bowl selections since the start of the 2024 season, accumulating 237 catches for 2,385 yards and 13 touchdowns. Despite his individual success, the Cardinals are projected to be one of the NFL's struggling teams. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is currently not participating in 11-on-11 drills due to a contract dispute.
"I love it here in Arizona," McBride added. "And I hope they love me too, but it's a special place. The fans are great, and I'm excited for this year to give them something to be proud of."