Everyone in the NFL knows that to have a good running game, you have to possess capable tight ends to help extend the offensive line. And if he is a good blocker and can lead the team in catches, that is a huge bonus.
Such is the life of Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.
RELATED: CARDINALS FANS THINK MCBRIDE LEADS THE TEAM
It’s really weird how little media attention McBride gets, despite being in the same category of greatness as Travis Kelce and George Kittle. This past season, McBride had
169 targets, 126 catches for 1,239 yards with a 9.8 yards per reception average, 11 touchdowns, 63 first down conversions, 656 YAC, and just two drops.
For 2025, top receiving tight ends:
- Trey McBride (Cardinals) – 1,239 yards
- Kyle Pitts Sr. (Falcons) – 928 yards
- Juwan Johnson (Saints) – 889 yards
- Travis Kelce (Chiefs) – 851 yards
- Tyler Warren (Colts) – 817 yards
For 2024, top receiving tight ends:
- Brock Bowers (Raiders): 1,194 yards
- Trey McBride (Cardinals): 1,146 yards
- George Kittle (49ers): 1,106 yards
- Jonnu Smith (Dolphins): 884 yards
- Travis Kelce (Chiefs): 823 yards
McBride was a recent guest on the podcast “Bussin’ with the Boys” with hosts former NFL players OT Taylor Lewan and LB Will Compton. They asked McBride a ton of questions in their show bus, along with their show minions.
LINK: BUSSIN’ WITH THE BOYS PODCAST
Here at Revenge of the Birds, we already did a short article on some of McBride’s answers from this same podcast. But all of that focused on his opinions about the new rookies, plus the new offensive system that is being installed.
ROTB wanted to finish out McBride’s thoughts on several unusual situations. For one, his high school is going to retire his jersey number this year. His school never retired a jersey number, and two other NFL players played there, so all three numbers will be retired in one big ceremony. Every player wants his jersey retired, no matter the sport or the level.
Not every one of McBride’s questions and answers are here.
We wanted to relay the best ones:
Q: When you were playing with Kyler (Murray), was it harder for him being a smaller-stature QB?
McBride: Seeing the ball, it can definitely be different. Kyler’s not the tallest guy. Then there’s his arm angle. He’s a baseball guy, so he throws from every different arm angle, and he’s scrambling around and has a missile. He’s just a different quarterback than what I had played with, but we had a lot of success together. But then when Jacoby came in, he’s taller and a little easier to see with his release points, and things like that. It does make a little bit of a difference.
Q: One of the biggest news stories about Kyler was that he was always playing “Call of Duty.” Was that ever in the locker room?
McBride: No, it was never really a thing. I definitely saw the memes, but it was funny because he never really talked about it or about playing games. But every single week, he was in the media, ‘Oh, the new Call of Duty came out, double XP weekend. He’s going to have the worst game ever.’ I’m like, double XP weekend? I didn’t understand that. He didn’t talk like being on missions. He never talked about playing or anything related.
Q: The fanbase like in Arizona. During the Cardinals’ Super Bowl week, it was the first time we saw people walking around with Cardinals hats. After the game was played, and all of a sudden, the hats just kind of went away.
McBride: Living in Arizona, no one’s from Arizona. Everyone kind of has moved in from another state. So, they’re all fans of their own team. So, there are no Arizona fans in Arizona. So, it’s a tough deal. But hopefully, we will start winning some games, and we can bring some of those fans back. I got drafted in the second round, and I didn’t know much about the Cardinals. I grew up in Colorado and was a Broncos fan growing up. It was all new to me.
Editor’s note: Before the Cardinals relocated from St. Louis to the desert, the majority of the locals were Dallas Cowboys fans. Many still are.
Q: Did you feel at home with Colorado State?
McBride: The one thing that was cool about Colorado State is I won the Mackie Award, which was pretty cool. A tight end not at a Power 5 school. That was special to win that award. They gave me this big trophy. It’s huge. And at the time, Colorado State asked if I was going to keep the trophy or if we were going to put it in the case (at their school). I’m like, “What? It’s my trophy. I’m keeping it.” And they said they had to get a replica, but it was 15 grand. They were like, “How are we going to do that?” I told them I don’t know, figure it out. So, that was a big deal. They said they had to get some donors for some money to get this replica in the trophy case. And I’m like, “Well, you guys better figure it out cuz I’m keeping this one.”
Q: You signed, at the time, the largest contract for a tight end in the history of the NFL with your extension. That has to feel absolutely incredible with your story coming from a very small town.
McBride: I remember going through the whole process of getting the new contract, knowing I was going to sign a big one. I was at home, and my agent called me, and I ended up signing for 76. He said we got four for 64 (million), which was 16 (million) a year. I was like, “F**k, dude. 64? Oh my god.” I could buy so many Zips wings. Just everything that’s going through my mind. I said let’s lock it in. That’s life-changing. It was pretty cool to be up there past Travis (Kelce) and (George) Kittle. Colorado State called me right away about that 15 grand (laughs). I was at the Pro Bowl with Kittle, and he asked me if I had gotten a deal done because he was waiting to jump me. I was the highest paid for a month? Two weeks?
Q: Was that the first offer at 16?
McBride: No. The first offer was actually lower, like 12 (million).
Q: What are your favorite things to do?
McBride: I’m a big golfer right now. I got the golf bug, where I’m hooked. If I have any free time, I’m trying to play golf as much as I can. That’s my fixation right now. Me and Budda Baker play a lot together. I used to kill him and beat him up badly. But he’s starting to play really good right now and might be trending. It’s a lot of fun. I’m trying to join Whisper Rock. It’s a tough place to get in. And I watch the PGA.
Q: Who’s the most respected defensive player in your eyes in the back seven?
McBride: There’s a lot of good safeties. Derwin James. Kyle Hamilton’s actually a really, really good player. We play against the Seahawks, and they have (Devon) Witherspoon, who’s a really good player. The 49ers have Fred Warner. Jesse Bates with Atlanta got me on a couple of routes where I had an option route and a go ball, where he got me. He got the best of me, and I want my lick back for sure. There are so many guys in this league who are tough. I try to win more than I lose, and that’s usually the case.
Q: What was your “welcome to the NFL” moment?
McBride: It was actually in my first training camp. I got a few reps with the ones. I put my hand down, and J.J. Watt is lined up in front of me. DeAndre Hopkins is in the slot, A.J. Green split out, and I’m like, “Holy s**t, dude. I’m like on the offense with DHop and AJ.” And I got to try to cut off JJ. This will be fun. One play, we’re on the backside of a cutoff, and I cut off J.J. Watt. I’m going as hard as I can, trying to have the perfect technique, and he’s not even really trying. I just remember saving the clip. I’m like, “I just f***ing blocked J.J. Watt!” For me, it was really cool.
Q: Which team in the NFC West do you dislike, and why is it the 49ers?
McBride: It’s actually Seattle. That’s a tough place to play. Their defense is a bunch of s**t talkers and has a really good team. Their defense didn’t lock me up. I went for like 130, but it’s such a hostile environment. Their field is a cool place to play, and they have gotten the best of us the last couple of times. It’d be nice to get back on the winning side for sure.
