Cindy McCain joins Arizona Cardinals as honorary captain for season opener

PHOENIX — Cindy McCain, widow of U.S. Sen. John McCain, made her first public appearance Sunday since her husband’s funeral, joining the Arizona Cardinals on the field as an honorary captain for the season opener.

Larry Fitzgerald, a longtime friend of the family and one of the team captains, stood beside her for the coin toss at their home field State Farm Stadium.

Sen. McCain, 81, died of brain cancer Aug. 25 at the family ranch near Sedona.

After a week of public celebrations of his life, including two days in Arizona, the senator was buried in a private service at the Naval Academy Cemetery last Sunday. Cindy McCain hadn’t been seen in public since the Washington services Sept. 1.

Cindy McCain was greeted with a standing ovation from a crowd of about 61,000.

Our honorary captain, Cindy McCain, at the coin toss for #WASvsAZ.

The @McCainInstitute is in the arena, where Senator McCain’s values and legacy are being championed.

To learn more and get involved, visit https://t.co/WKD8W9TPU8 #InTheArena pic.twitter.com/9wG66T9iJf

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 9, 2018

She later tweeted out her thanks to Fitzgerald and the team.

Thank you to @LarryFitzgerald and @AZCardinals for your warm welcome and touching tribute to John. Support for our family has been overwhelming. We’re going to keep fighting for the America John believed in everyday with the @McCainInstitute and hope you will join us #InTheArena

— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) September 9, 2018

.@LarryFitzgerald greets Cindy McCain at today’s game.

The McCain Institute is in the arena, where Senator McCain’s values and legacy are being championed.
To learn more and get involved, visit https://t.co/WKD8W9TPU8 #InTheArena pic.twitter.com/BRy3Ps7QW8

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 9, 2018

Fitzgerald spoke at the Valley memorial service for John McCain, held at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Aug. 29. He remembered his friend as someone who “celebrated differences. He embraced humanity, championed what was true and just and saw people for who they were.”

The Cardinals won the coin toss but lost the game, 24-6, to the Washington Redskins.

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