Trey McBride Sets Cardinals Franchise Record

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has set a new franchise record.

ARIZONA -- Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has been nothing short of impressive this season. 

Now, he's re-written franchise history books. 

With his first reception against the San Francisco 49ers, McBride has officially established a Cardinals single-season franchise record for receptions by a tight end (57), surpassing previous marks of 56 with Zach Ertz (2021) and Jackie Smith (1967). 

The reception came on the third play of the game, where Murray sold a play-action before finding McBride open in the flat. The play went for a first down before the very next play resulted in another catch for McBride, this time for 38 yards downfield.

McBride entered this week leading the Cardinals in receiving yards with 610 on 74 targets, nearly 30 less targets than Marquise Brown who has 574 yards to his name. McBride also had a team-high 56 receptions with two touchdowns entering Week 15. 

This achievement is all the more impressive when you consider McBride split time with Ertz for the first seven weeks of the season, playing more than 40 snaps just once during that time. He had just eight receptions after five weeks of football.

Since Ertz went to IR and eventually was released, McBride has emerged as one of the top players at his position. 

“He’s got a unique skillset. I think he’s super athletic. I think he’s sneaky athletic compared to a lot of guys," said quarterback Kyler Murray. "They might not look at Trey and be like, ‘Oh, this guy is super athletic.’ Me being around him and seeing how he works and who he is as an athlete, he is athletic, and he can catch the ball with the best of them. I think people are starting to see that now, so next year it may not be a surprise. 

"We expect that, he expects it and we keep him going. It’s all confidence from there on out and he’s gaining it rapidly.”

McBride might not be done adding to the accolades today, either. With 90 receiving yards, McBride would join Smith (who accomplished the feat three times) as the only tight ends in franchise history with 700+ receiving yards in a season. 

Smith had 1,205 yards in 1967, 810 in 1966 and 789 in 1968.