The Arizona Cardinals announced on Monday that the team will induct Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald into the Ring of Honor on October 25th against the Denver Broncos.
From the team:
The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team will honor Hall of Fame wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD at halftime of its October 25th game vs. the Denver Broncos presented by Gila River Resorts & Casinos.
In a ceremony that day, Fitzgerald will be placed in the team’s Ring of Honor and also
have his jersey number (11) retired.
“No one who has ever worn a Cardinals uniform is more deserving of this honor,” said Cardinals owner MICHAEL BIDWILL. “His excellence on the field was only surpassed by the way he represented our team and our community off of it. We are all grateful for the opportunity to recognize Larry in this way and for our fans to celebrate all he has meant to our franchise and the state of Arizona.”
Fitzgerald will be just the sixth player in franchise history to have his number retired – joining S Larry Wilson (8), S Pat Tillman (40), T Stan Maudlin (77), TE J.V. Cain (88) and HB/DB Marshall Goldberg (99) – and the 20th member of the Cardinals Ring of Honor.
Selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, Fitzgerald became just the eighth wide receiver ever selected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He joined Raymond Berry, Lance Alworth, Paul Warfield, Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson
Taken by Arizona with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 NFL seasons (2004-20) with the Cardinals and finished his career as the franchise all-time leader in games played (263), receptions (1,432), receiving yards (17,492) and touchdowns (121). His 263 games played are the most in NFL history by a wide receiver with a single team.
Fitzgerald ranks second in NFL history behind only Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in career receptions and receiving yards and sixth in career TD receptions. Rice (13) is also the only wide receiver in league history selected to more Pro Bowls than Fitzgerald (11).
Below are more highlights from Fitzgerald’s historic career:
- An 11-time Pro Bowl selection and 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year co-recipient. Fitzgerald joins Rice (13) as the only WRs in NFL history selected to the Pro Bowl at least 11 times.
- Named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team and the All-Decade Team for 2010’s.
- Owns NFL records for the most seasons with 90+ receptions (8), most seasons with 50+ receptions (17), consecutive seasons with 50+ receptions (17), consecutive seasons with 700+ receiving yards (16), receptions with a single team (1,432), career games with 150+ receiving yards in the postseason (3), receiving yards in a single postseason (546), receiving touchdowns in a single postseason (7), 100-yard receiving performances in a single postseason (4) and is the only player in NFL history to average 100+ receiving yards and 1+ TD in every postseason game played (min. 5 games).
- Twice led the NFL in receptions (2005, 2016) and twice led the league in TD receptions (2008, 2009). Only player in NFL history to lead the league in receptions 11+ years apart (second-longest streak is six years by Jerry Rice).
- Ended his career with at least one reception in 256 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in NFL history (Rice – 274).
- Led the Cardinals in receiving yards 13 times. In NFL history, only Rice (15) led his team in receiving yards more times.
- Finished his career with more tackles (41) than dropped passes (35). Had the fewest dropped passes by any player in NFL history with at least 1,500 career targets.
- Had more career receptions at State Farm Stadium (669) than any other player in NFL history at a single venue.
- During the Cardinals run to Super Bowl XLIII following the 2008 season, had the most prolific postseason of any WR in NFL history. His records for receiving yards (546) and TD receptions (7) in a single postseason still stand.
- Started all nine postseason games played, totaling 57 receptions for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns. One of just nine players in NFL history with 10+ touchdown receptions in the postseason.
- One of just nine players in NFL history to have least five games of 100+ receiving yards and three games with 2+ touchdown receptions in the postseason.
Congratulations to Fitz on his accomplishments.
