Through the highs and lows of the 2024 season, Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride consistently uplifted his team.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver closed out Arizona’s final game in typical fashion, hauling in a team-leading seven catches for 65 yards that he accompanied with a touchdown in the 47-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday.
McBride put together a trio of spectacular plays with quarterback Kyler Murray to extend Arizona’s lead late in the second quarter to 17-10. The Pro Bowl tight end caught the Cardinals’ longest pass of the game for a 28-yard completion. The duo ended the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone, seeing Arizona’s top receiver cross the goal line in consecutive weeks after going the bulk of the season scoreless. Both catches warranted their own excitement, but neither hit the way his catch-and-run that left a 49er looking at the sky as McBride continued on for a first down did.
On the same drive, McBride took a quick dump pass for 12 yards, seeing him plow through 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown to earn NFL Network’s Good Morning Football’s last “Angry Run” Scepter of the regular season.
The final scepter of the regular season from @KyleBrandt goes to @mcbtrey ???? @AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/5Cb0GD2LE2
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 7, 2025
GMFB’s Kyle Brandt was absolutely juiced, knighting Arizona’s tight end with the honor on Tuesday, comparing his demolition of the 49ers’ safety to some of combat sports’ best fighters.
“Was that Bas Rutten? Was that Jorge Masvidal?,” Brandt said. “Give me a freeze frame of McBride, who’s not trying to jump over the 49er, he’s trying to jump THROUGH him.”
Murray went right back to McBride after their long first down completion, finding his favorite target on a quick bubble route and letting the Cardinals’ Walter Payton Man of the Year do the rest.
McBride eyed Brown, and thought he had the advantage in athleticism. The tight end left his feet for a failed hurdle attempt, driving his knee into the chinstrap of the San Francisco defenseman. As Brown went to the ground, McBride kept his footing, sprinting for a few extra yards to earn back-to-back first downs.
Plays like this are nothing new for Murray’s main guy, finishing the season with a team-high 111 receptions for 1,146 yards. His receptions were the second most in a single-season in franchise history, finishing four catches behind current Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins’ 2020 campaign. He ended the year as 4th in catches and 11th in receiving yards in the NFL.
Check out more reactions from McBride’s powerful play:
SAVAGE LETS GOO TREY
— DaddyBigNuts⚡️⚡️ (@jmesparky) January 5, 2025
Trey channeled his inner Tony Jaa ???????????? pic.twitter.com/MEr5elVppO
— ValleyBoy (@E72276641) January 5, 2025
Hang it in the Louvre ????
— Joanna Cards Fan (@cardsfanjoanna) January 5, 2025
Trey McBride finally familiar with end zone in Cardinals’ season-closer
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
