Making it to the NFL is one thing. Staying there is another challenge.
Anquan Boldin was able to stay in the NFL for 14 years, seven of them with the Arizona Cardinals. After wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.’s rookie year, Boldin said the tools are there for a successful second year and beyond: the same team and same coaching staff.
“I think that’s when you have your biggest jump, to be honest with you, year one to year two,” Boldin said Monday on Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke. “Number one, there’s that familiarity … when you come in as a rookie, man, your head is spinning: new city, new coaches, new system. … But then you come into year two, especially a guy like him, same quarterback, same system, obviously same city, all of those things. The familiarity, it just helps him.”
Boldin dealt with a lot of change between his Offensive Rookie of the Year season in 2003 and his sophomore season in 2004. His head coach, offensive coordinator and even quarterback were all replaced.
Harrison was productive during his first season, playing in all 17 games and pulling in 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, being the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and the son of a Hall of Fame receiver, many expected more from the rookie.
Early on last season, Harrison was a top contender to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year. At the end of the year, though, he did not receive any votes from The Associated Press, leaving uncertainty about what level of receiver he can be in the future.
Boldin is no stranger to questions entering the NFL. His ACL tear during his junior year at Florida State (2001) and knee injury in 2004 created concern about his ability to be a healthy and productive NFL player.
For Harrison, Boldin advised him to focus on bettering himself through his own critiques, rather than listening to the expectations and criticism of others.
“For me, it was, I just didn’t care,” Boldin said. “If I heard something, I was just going to prove you wrong, just point blank. And that would be the advice that I would give him. Forget what people say about you, just go be who you are, and you be your biggest critic. And if you’re your biggest critic, you don’t have to worry about nobody else.”
Expectations reserved for more in Arizona besides Marvin Harrison Jr.
Expectations will be high this season in Glendale for more than just Harrison.
As a team, the Cardinals finished 8-9 last season, their best record since 2021. But even the wins and losses are deceptive in showing the potential this team has in 2025. The NFC West lacked a truly dominant team in 2024, with none of the four clubs winning more than 10 games for the first time since 2016. Arizona even had the best point differential at +21.
While the division-winning Rams were able to scratch together 10 wins, they only won two games by multiple scores and failed to win any regular season game by more than 10 points. The Cardinals notably handed Los Angeles its worst loss of the season at State Farm Stadium in Week 2 with Harrison having a breakout game. Arizona rolled to a 41-10 victory with Harrison recording 130 receiving yards and two touchdowns, both eventual season highs.
Boldin’s teams also saw their fair share of success and expectations. He made the playoffs six times, notably going to the Super Bowl with the Cardinals during the 2008 season and winning the Super Bowl in 2012 with the Baltimore Ravens.
Just like when handling expectations as a player, Boldin said a team needs to know and be confident in who it is to manage high hopes for a season.
“The year that we won (the Super Bowl), we just knew we were a team, we knew what he had in the locker room. … Nobody’s expectations should be bigger than the ones that you have in those locker rooms.”
In Boldin’s 14-year career, he amassed 1,076 receptions for 13,779 yards and 82 touchdowns. Even in down years, he was always able to play in at least 10 games, secure 50 receptions and have 500 receiving yards.
He said Harrison can also enjoy similar success if he just keeps playing his game.
“For him, he has all the tools,” Boldin said. “He has all the skills. I think for him, it’s just go out and be yourself, play ball.”