The NFL revealed its Hall of Fame class for 2026. Among the five players to be enshrined in Canton this summer is Arizona Cardinals‘ legendary receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald didn’t have to wait long for his Hall of Fame call, getting elected in his first year of eligibility. He got the news from fellow Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, a player he idolized growing up in Minnesota. Fitzgerald got to watch Moss start his career as a ball boy for the Vikings before carving out his own Hall of Fame legacy.
Fitzgerald was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. That started a career that spanned 17 seasons in the desert, earning just about every franchise receiving record. He played 263 games, catching 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns.
With Fitzgerald officially elected to the Hall of Fame, it raises one interesting question. Is he the greatest player to put on a Cardinals uniform?
Larry Fitzgerald’s Impact with the Cardinals
Fitzgerald’s regular-season production was more than enough for the Hall of Fame. But his impact went just beyond the numbers. He served as the compass for the offense due to his reliability and availability.
In 17 seasons, he played in 263 games, with 261 starts. Both are franchise records. He never started fewer than 13 games in any of those seasons, a testament to his durability despite the rigors of playing in the NFL for as long as he did.
Fitzgerald led the NFL in receptions in 2005 and 2016, and led in receiving touchdowns in 2008 and 2009. He played during one of the greatest eras for wide receivers in NFL history, with Moss, Marvin Harrison Sr., Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Steve Smith Sr. as his peers.
More important than his statistics was the way Fitzgerald approached his career. While receivers constantly make the news for being a diva, the Cardinals receiver was the ultimate professional. When Arizona hired Bruce Arians, he accepted the move from lining up outside to the slot.
That not only extended his career but also allowed the Cardinals to unleash a more potent offense. Arizona ranked second in points per game in 2015 and was a Super Bowl contender in the early years of the Arians era.
It is for a player to spend 17 seasons with one team. With free agency and trades, it’s tough for a player of Fitzgerald’s caliber to sit through coaching changes and missed opportunities for that long. But he endured it all and did everything he could to bring a championship to Arizona.
Larry Fitzgerald’s Insane Postseason Track Record
GettyLarry Fitzgerald’s legendary performance in the 2008 playoffs nearly carried the Cardinals to a championship.
Perhaps the biggest memories for Cardinals fans were his playoff performances. The most famous one came in 2008. That team featured a Hall of Fame passer in his prime in Kurt Warner and three 1,000-yard receivers (Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston). No team has accomplished that feat since.
Even though Arizona finished with just a 9-7 record thanks to a dismal December, the Kurt Warner-Larry Fitzgerald connection carried the team to within inches of its first Super Bowl title. Fitzgerald caught 30 passes for 546 yards and seven touchdowns.
His best performance may have been in Super Bowl XLIII, catching seven passes for 127 yards and two scores. His last reception was a 64-yard house call that put Arizona up 23-20 late in the fourth quarter. Had the game finished with a different result, Fitzgerald may have earned the game’s MVP honors.
Another notable playoff performance came six years later. After the Green Bay Packers forced overtime, Fitzgerald called game. He uncovered on a Carson Palmer scramble, caught a cross-field pass, and took it for 75 yards. He scored on the next play to send Arizona to the NFC Championship Game. That remains their last playoff win entering the 2026 season.
When factoring in Fitzgerald’s regular-season production, his playoff track record, loyalty, and professionalism, he has a strong argument for the greatest Cardinal of all time.
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