Instead of adding a position of need, former general manager Steve Keim went with the best available player at No. 55 overall in McBride despite already having a starting-caliber TE in Zach Ertz.
Forty-four games (36 starts), 183 catches, 1,871 receiving yards and four touchdowns later, McBride has erased any doubt about his place as Arizona’s no-doubt tight end.
This year is shaping up to be McBride’s best, needing just nine catches and 45 yards to set career marks. He’s already tied his high for first downs with 42 and is averaging the most yards per catch (10.7) and yards per game (71) in his career through 11 weeks. Yes, touchdowns have been a different story.
The only tight end doing it better this year statistically is Las Vegas Raiders rookie Brock Bowers, who is up to 884 yards, four touchdowns and 43 first downs on the year.
But for all the good McBride’s put on tape these past three years — especially since taking over as TE1 — the tight end is leaving just as big of a mark off of it.
His nomination as the Cardinals’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year on Thursday says all you need to know.
Tabbed as one of 32 nominations for the honor in 2024, McBride has made a consistent effort to give back to those in Arizona and back home in Colorado.
The honor is far from lost on the third-year pro.
“Just for the Arizona Cardinals and Mr. Michael Bidwill to nominate me for this award is very special,” McBride said Thursday. “There are so many guys in this organization that do so much for the community and devote their careers to helping other people.
“For me to be honored and get this award this year is very special to me, to my family, to everybody. This award means so much to me. You’re on such a platform as an NFL player to give back to people, to help other people out and I’m very grateful that people are recognizing that I do that and I plan on continuing to do that. I think this is just the first step.”
As for what his mom thought about the award?
That took a little digging.
“My mom doesn’t know a ton about football. When I told her I won this award, she had no idea what it was,” McBride said with a smile. “Then she called me back about an hour later bawling her eyes out and was super excited, super happy. She must of did a little research.
“My family was super excited for me. My brothers were the first people I told.”
In addition to participating in numerous Cardinals charity events, McBride has focused a lot of his time on giving back to the youth both in Arizona and in his hometown of Fort Morgan, Colorado, and the military.
Whether it be his second annual free youth camp in Colorado, a $10,000 shopping spree for a group of local Phoenix kids, helping serve meals at the Annual Teen Thanksgiving Dinner at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale or heading overseas to visit the troops, McBride is constantly looking for ways to help the next generation and those on the frontlines.
“Veterans are just important. I feel like they give us the freedom that we have to do whatever we want,” McBride said Thursday. “We couldn’t do that without people serving our military. I think that’s very important to give back to those people.
“And the youth is our future, so if we can help out the young kids as much as we can and pour into them as much as we can, the future of us, the future of our kids, our grandkids, whatever it’s going to be, is always going to be better.”
What’s the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year?
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, named after the legendary Hall of Famer and Chicago Bears running back, is given out to a player “who excels on the field and demonstrates a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.”
Each team’s nominee will receive up $55,000 for the charities of their choosing.
The league winner, which will be announced during NFL Honors on Feb. 6, will receive up to a $265,000 donation.
Who was the Cardinals’ previous WPMOY award winner?
Last year’s nominee for the Cardinals was defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter.
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