Larry Fitzgerald received the ultimate football honor over the weekend, officially being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In response to that news, his former team announced it will also honor the franchise legend.
The Arizona Cardinals will honor Fitzgerald ahead of the teams Oct. 25 game vs. the Denver Broncos. Fitzgerald will have his number retired by the team and be inducted into its Ring of Honor, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fitzgerald is more than deserving of the honor. The 17-year NFL veteran spent his entire career with the Cardinals, shattering a number of franchise records, including most receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns with the team.
Advertisement
If you expand those numbers outside of just the Cardinals, Fitzgerald ranks second all-time in receiving yards, second all time in receptions and sixth all-time in receiving touchdowns. He was as elite — and consistent — as they come.
Despite his excellence, Fitzgerald never won a Super Bowl with the Cardinals. He was often plagued by poor quarterback play during his tenure with the team, a testament to his ability to produce no matter his situation.
The Cardinals did make it to the Super Bowl once with Fitzgerald. He turned in an unbelievable performance during that playoff run, hauling in 30 passes for 546 yards and seven touchdowns in four games. His 546 receiving yards in one postseason broke a record previously held by Jerry Rice.
Fitzgerald had a fantastic performance in Super Bowl XLIII, hauling in seven passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown nearly won the team the game. With the Cardinals trailing 20-16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Fitzgerald caught a short pass over the middle and then surged past the defense for a 64-yard score to put the Cardinals up 23-20 with 2:37 left.
Advertisement
But it wasn’t meant to be, as Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers charged down the field at hit Santonio Holmes with a game-winning touchdown pass with :35 seconds to go. Holmes’ toe-tapping catch in the corner of the end zone is considered one of the best catches in Super Bowl history.
The Cardinals made the playoffs just three other times during Fitzgerald’s tenure, never again reaching the Super Bowl.
