Marvin Harrison Jr. breaks silence on major health setback in injury-filled season amid Cardinals’ firing of coach Jonathan Gannon

The Arizona Cardinals expected growth this season, but instead they ended up dealing with injuries, setbacks, and major changes. One of the clearest examples of how tough the year became was Marvin Harrison Jr. The wide receiver’s season was not just about missed games. It was about trying to get his body right while everything around him kept shifting.
Harrison Jr. missed five games and never fully settled into a rhythm. Every time it looked like he was ready to turn a corner, something else got in the way. By the end of the season, it was clear that staying on the field had been only part of the battle. The bigger challenge was what his body went through behind the scenes.

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s tough season and the Cardinals’ major reset

Late in the year, Harrison Jr. spoke honestly about how much his health had suffered. Talking about his condition, he said, “I lost majority of the weight that I had, but kind of back to square one a little bit, and then never got chance to recover,” in an interview shared by PHNX Cardinals’ Bo Brack on X. When asked how much weight he lost, he answered simply, “Like 10 pounds.”
That weight loss came after Harrison Jr. underwent appendicitis surgery on November 10, 2025. The procedure happened shortly after a game against the Seattle Seahawks and forced him to miss two games. Losing that much weight is a serious issue for any NFL receiver, affecting strength and durability.
When Harrison Jr. returned in Week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there was hope. He picked up 69 yards before a heel injury cut his comeback short. That injury sidelined him for two more games. When he returned again in Week 17, the same heel problem flared up and ended his season early. With injuries stacking up, he never had enough time to fully recover.
Harrison Jr. finished the season with 41 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. That was a sharp contrast to his rookie season in 2024, when he played all 17 games. The lack of recovery time made this year especially frustrating.
While Harrison Jr. focused on healing, the Cardinals made a major move. On Black Monday, the team fired head coach Jonathan Gannon after a 3-14 season. Team owner Michael Bidwill explained the decision, saying, “(Gannon) made us better, but this is a league about wins and losses. The wins and losses speak for themselves, especially this year. We felt we were going in the wrong direction, and we needed to change course.”
Gannon finished his time with the Arizona Cardinals with a 15-36 record. Injuries played a major role, with more than 30 players landing on injured reserve at some point during the season. The Cardinals now hold the third pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and are beginning their coaching search.
For Harrison Jr., the focus is clear. Get healthy, regain strength and hope that next season brings a fresh start for both him and the team.
Also read: Arizona Cardinals fire head coach Jonathan Gannon after three seasons, ending 15-36 tenure

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