Larry Fitzgerald’s Cardinals Ring of Honor induction will be his long-overdue curtain call

Larry Fitzgerald never went on a retirement tour.

He did not play in front of a packed stadium with fans holding “Thank You, Larry!” signs to end his career.

Fitzgerald’s last NFL game was Arizona’s home finale in 2020 played in front of no fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he did not announce his retirement afterward.

On Sunday, when the Cardinals induct Fitzgerald into their Ring of Honor at State Farm Stadium, he will have the opportunity to receive his due ovation from Cardinals fans and show them gratitude.

“It kind of sucked for me because I got done playing in 2020 and all the stadiums were at half capacity, most of the season nobody was there,” Fitzgerald told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday. “So, I didn’t really get a chance to say bye. So, I’m really excited to be able to tell the folks who supported us for so many years what that meant to me, what they mean to me.”

“I was finished, that year took a toll physically and emotionally,” Fitzgerald added. “Unequivocally, I knew it was time after that 2020 year. I wanted to kind of get into what the next chapter of life would be. But I do wish I would have been able to play in front of our stadium with everybody there and have that feeling again.”

Fitzgerald said this day has been a long time coming, as he and owner Michael Bidwill have talked about the right time to have this ceremony for years.

This has been a big year for Fitzgerald, who was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August for his 17-year career that he finished with the second most catches in league history.

He said he practiced his Hall of Fame speech 300 times to ensure it went smoothly, the type of preparation that made him a superstar. His Ring of Honor speech will have to be shorter since it needs to fit within a halftime ceremony, but he’s still gone over it about 100 times.

He has a clear message to get across for Cardinals fans.

“It’s not so much about them showing me love, I really want them to feel the love from me and my kids,” Fitzgerald said. “I still remember in 2006, when we opened (State Farm Stadium) up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the preseason and just the energy around it and how meaningful it was to be able to have that brand new stadium in Arizona and be able to play in it. It brings so many great memories from the playoff games and things of that nature. That’s what I really want to let them know is how much that meant, some of the best parts of my life were experienced in that building.”

Fitzgerald joked that the moment will mean even more if the Cardinals are winning going into halftime against the Denver Broncos.

He is still as competitive as ever, playing chess daily, golfing, playing pickleball or even in the venture capital space where he has kept himself busy.

“It’s still hella competitive, it’s just my body’s not nearly as sore on Mondays,” he joked.

Fitzgerald said he wished he came through like Luis Gonzalez or Diana Taurasi to deliver a championship to the Valley, which he nearly did during an epic postseason run following the 2008 season. But he felt confident in saying the shortcoming has not diminished the love he has for the Valley and the community has for him.

“I don’t think winning a championship would have made it any stronger,” Fitzgerald said.” The love that I feel, man, it’s incredible. Every day I’m out in the community, at my kids’ games or a charity event, whatever I’m doing, it’s always in abundance and you never take it for granted.”

The Cardinals take on the Broncos on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. MST.

Catch all the action on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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