Trey McBride is trying to win back Cardinals fans by acknowledging they do, in fact, exist.

After he said “there’s no Arizona fans in Arizona” on a podcast last month, one of the NFL’s best tight ends used his first media availability of training camp to try to walk back the diss of his team’s fans.

“I probably shouldn’t have said that,” McBride said. “It came out wrong, and obviously the fan base is great. We have a tremendous fan base. Arizona’s been here, loyal fans to all the sports teams here, and we’re very lucky to have a lot of these guys, and we’re going to have a great season. We’re going to win games, and we’re going to make sure those fans have something proud to cheer for.”

There is no doubt that McBride is capable of a great season after going to back-to-back Pro Bowls with 237 catches for 2,385 yards and 13 touchdowns since the start of 2024.

But the Cardinals are expected to be one of the NFL’s worst teams – and quarterback Jacoby Brissett isn’t practicing in 11-on-11 drills because of a contract dispute.

“I love it here in Arizona,” McBride said, “and I hope they love me too, but it’s a special place. The fans are great, and I’m excited for this year to give them something to be proud of.”

McBride, 26, is a Colorado native who was drafted in the second round in 2022.

He signed a four-year, $76 million extension to stay with the Cardinals.

During an appearance in June on “Bussin’ with the Boys,” co-host Taylor Lewan, an Arizona native, remarked how he grew up never seeing people in Cardinals gear around the city until they went to the Super Bowl in 2008.

Then it all went away after that one great season.

“Living in Arizona, no one’s from Arizona,” McBride regretfully said. “Everyone has kind of moved in from another state, so they’re all fans of their own teams, so now you have the Arizona that sits there and there’s no Arizona fans in Arizona. So it’s a tough deal. Hopefully, we start winning some games and we can bring some of those fans back.”