Trey McBride walked back his June criticism of Arizona fans on Saturday, saying he probably should not have said it and that his words came out wrong. He added that the fanbase is great and that Arizona is a special place.
The retraction matters because the comments landed in a place where McBride is one of the most visible names attached to the Arizona Cardinals, and he used the moment to shift from criticism to praise. He said he loves it in Arizona, hopes fans love him too, and wants to give them something to be proud of.
McBride's earlier remarks came during a June appearance on Bussin' with the Boys, where he argued that Arizona is a transplant state and that many people are rooted in teams from somewhere else. He said there are no Arizona fans in Arizona, called it a tough deal and suggested that winning more games would help bring some supporters back.
He softened that view on Saturday. McBride said Arizona has a tremendous fanbase, described the state's sports followers as loyal and said he and the team are lucky to have them. He also promised that the Cardinals will win games and make sure those fans have something proud to cheer for.
The timing gives the comments extra weight. Since McBride joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2022, the team has gone 19-49, has not finished a season above.500 and has spent most of that stretch below the five-win barrier. That record helps explain why the words drew attention in the first place and why the apology-like reset on Saturday now matters more than the original jab.
The friction is hard to miss: McBride first said Arizona had no Arizona fans in Arizona, then said the fanbase is great and that he probably should not have said that. He did not retreat from the larger point that better football would change the mood around the team, and he said the Cardinals would look much different if they turn things around under Mike LaFleur. For now, the story is less about the dig than the repair job, and whether the season can make his second version of Arizona the one fans remember.
