Marvin Harrison Jr. Not Bothered by Rookie Year Underperformance: ‘You’ve Got to Run Your Own Race’

The fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and the son of an NFL legend, Harrison was outplayed last season by several players with lower pedigree.

Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 5, 2025. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is unbothered by his disappointing rookie season.

A top-5 draft pick last year and the son of an NFL Hall of Famer, Harrison was expected to be a top-tier receiving weapon for the Cardinals. However, he was eclipsed by several players taken later than him.

Meeting with the media Wednesday at Cardinals training camp, Harrison said he noticed others’ success, but is trying to focus on himself.

“I’m not going to lie to you and say I don’t pay attention to it,” Harrison said. “You’ve got to run your own race, though. Everybody’s in different situations. Everyone has different journeys. So you’ve just got to focus on yourself.”

Harrison was drafted fourth overall by the Cardinals out of Ohio State in the 2024 draft. The son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr., he was a star at Ohio State, putting up 1,200-plus yards and 14 touchdowns in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

That outstanding college production did not necessarily materialize in his first year as a pro. He had 62 catches on 116 targets for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers were good, but something of an underperformance for a player of his pedigree.

Harrison was fifth among rookie receivers in receiving yards, behind 23rd overall pick Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (1,282 yards); Malik Nabers, selected by the New York Giants two picks after Harrison (1,204); Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, picked 13th overall (1,194); and Los Angeles Chargers second-round pick Ladd McConkey (1,149). He was also fifth in receptions behind Bowers (112); Nabers (109); Thomas (87); and McConkey (82). But he tied for second in touchdowns behind Thomas (10).

Harrison’s father also did not have outstanding production early in his career. In his first three seasons, Marvin Harrison Sr. had 64 catches/836 yards/8 TDs; 73/866/6; and 59/776/7, respectively. He finally had a breakout season in 1999 with 115 catches for 1,663 yards and 12 TDs. He went on to have eight consecutive 1000-plus yard, 10-plus touchdown seasons from 1999-2006.

Fueling Up Early

Going into his second season, Harrison is growing into the NFL physically and mentally. He weighed in at 220 pounds at the start of training camp, up 11 pounds from his playing weight as a rookie.

“I feel great,” he said. “I mean, I feel the same. I mean, I feel faster, more powerful, stronger. So I’m ready to showcase it.”

Harrison said the biggest change for him was eating more, especially breakfast. He said he probably did not eat as much as he should have in college. But he said the experience was part of maturing.

“I would say, like anything, the first couple weeks it kind of takes you getting used to it,” he said. “I’m not even a big breakfast guy, but I’ve got to eat my breakfast now. I have a big breakfast. So, that’s probably the biggest challenge, waking up and not [being] hungry, but still kind of making sure you fuel yourself anyway.”

On the mental side, Harrison said he is much more relaxed after being nervous and fidgety as a rookie.

“It’s allowed me to go out there [and] just be free a little bit,” he said.

Harrison did not reveal if he had any personal goals for himself. Rather, he wants to help the team win.

“Just win,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to. I think this is the time. The time is now.”

Cardinals tight end Trey McBride—who had a slow start to his career but broke out with 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards, and two TDs in 2024—echoed the idea of keeping the focus on oneself.

“I didn’t come in and catch a million balls right off the bat,” he said. “You just kind of grow. You figure out your role. You can’t really look at other people because everybody’s in a different situation...So, I think you focus on yourself. You do everything you can to be the best possible player you can be, and everything else will take care of itself.”

Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals competes during the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Nicholson Fieldhouse on the UCF Campus in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 30, 2025. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

McBride also said he noticed Harrison’s physique and his confidence heading into year two.

“He’s growing into his body still, and man, I’m excited to see him take the next level,” said McBride. “He’s a guy who can be a force to be reckoned with, and I’m excited to see him grow with [quarterback] Kyler [Murray] and grow in this offense and be a stud.”