Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction was the perfect final chapter

Larry Fitzgerald curated a near-perfect professional career. He gave it the perfect ending on Saturday. 

Fitzgerald’s induction speech at Pro Football Hall of Fame hit all the right notes. He was poised and prepared. His words flowed from the heart and were full of gratitude. The playful Fitz emerged at times, taking good-natured shots at some of his colleagues. And in my opinion, the smack-talking side of Fitzgerald is highly underrated, and partly why he was so beloved inside a locker room.

 

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But this was mostly Ambassador Fitzgerald doing what he does best: shining on the biggest of stages, just like he did in the postseason. A man showing his class, his pedigree and his sense of humility while taking his proper place in NFL history.   

“It’s been 22 years and counting in Arizona,” Fitzgerald said. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to replenish the well of goodwill I’ve been lucky enough to drink from.” 

This has been a great weekend for Fitzgerald. He’s been smiling ever since kickoff of the Hall of Fame game on Thursday, when the Cardinals paid their respect by playing a respectable game. And that smile is evident on his Hall of Fame bust, just like it should be. 

Meanwhile, the scene on Friday night was thick with emotion, when Fitzgerald was the sentimental star of the Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner. We haven’t seen an Arizona sporting legend this happy since Randy Johnson was gifted an authentic RUSH replica drum kit by the Diamondbacks at his retirement ceremony in 2015. 

Maybe it’s because Fitzgerald never won a Super Bowl, unlike Drew Brees and Kurt Warner. A record throng of 120 Hall of Famers returned for the 2026 ceremonies, and many know how hard the road has been for Fitzgerald, a player who never left Arizona for greener pastures and better organizations. The vibes around Fitzgerald made it clear where he ranked among other inductees: 

Nobody wanted it more, nobody needed it more and nobody was more deserving. 

The weekend was also a feast for Valley sports fans. There has been endless and spectacular content produced from local media members in recent days, from people who have spent a chunk of their life with Fitzgerald. All of us were very blessed. 

But for Cardinals fans, this was the moment they’ve wanted since Fitzgerald walked away after the 2020 season, never once saying goodbye. Six years later, it finally came full circle, when a beautiful love story came to its last page. 

The fans who traveled to Canton, Ohio, were able to pay homage in person. But I’m certain that hundreds of thousands more were doing the same thing from their couches on Saturday morning, delivering the only Valley chant that can top “Beat L.A.” 

“Lar-ry! Lar-ry! Lar-ry!” 

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com.  Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7. 

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