August 8, 2026, marked the official Hall of Fame induction for Arizona Cardinals‘ legendary receiver, Larry Fitzgerald. In his speech, he gave a shoutout to Cardinals fans over the years.
“I just want to show some love to the Cardinals fans in attendance here, today,” said Fitzgerald, video courtesy of NFL Network. “To the Cardinals fans back home in Arizona, you guys supported us on and off the field over the years. You showed up at home games, you showed up at away games, through wins and losses.
“It’s been 22 years and counting, Arizona. And I will spend the rest of my life trying to replenish the well of goodwill I’ve been lucky enough to drink from.”
The last sentence speaks to the character that Fitzgerald has shown over the years with Arizona and why he’s such a legendary player. It goes beyond just the stats and performances.
The 22 years date back to when Fitzgerald became a Cardinal forever. Arizona spent the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft on a 6’3″ receiver out of Pittsburgh. In 17 seasons, all with the Cardinals, he caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns.
Larry Fitzgerald will leave a legacy with the Arizona Cardinals that very few players will ever rival. His Hall of Fame induction and sharing the stage with his son, Devin, puts the perfect close to such a career, even if he declines to “officially” retire from football.
Remembering Larry Fitzgerald’s Legendary Cardinals Career
GettyLarry Fitzgerald (#11) of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates his touchdown run against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Steelers edged Arizona 27-23 for their sixth Super Bowl title. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Larry Fitzgerald not only was one of the best receivers statistically, but he also raised his play with the stakes. His 2008 playoff run was legendary. He and fellow Hall of Famer Kurt Warner brought the Cardinals to the cusp of a Super Bowl XLIII title, but came up just a bit short.
With his running mate, Anquan Boldin, battling shoulder and hamstring injuries, Fitzgerald carried the offense. In all four games, he recorded 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. His 64-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers gave Arizona a 23-20 lead. He averaged 136.5 receiving yards per game and scored seven touchdowns.
Fitzgerald also turned in an electric playoff performance against the Green Bay Packers in 2016. After the Packers forced overtime on a Hail Mary, he uncovered in a scramble drill and took a short pass 75 yards. Fitzgerald scored on a designed shovel pass on the next play to send the Cardinals to the NFC Championship.
Juxtaposing Fitzgerald’s role in those two postseasons also shows the type of character. He was the primary split-end/X receiver on the 2008 Cardinals. In the 2015 iteration, he was their primary slot receiver after the team drafted Michael Floyd. That speaks to the level of unselfishness that he displayed throughout his career.
And all this happened because of one call by Craig Wrolstad on December 28, 2023. Wrolstad was the field judge who made the famous forceout call on Nate Poole’s touchdown that resulted in the Cardinals having the No. 3 pick in the 2004 Draft.
In a full-circle moment, Wrolstad ended up being the referee in the game that celebrated Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction. It served as the perfect close to celebrate the career of the greatest Arizona Cardinals player ever.
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