Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame speech is ready, and he’s excited for the moment with his son

Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald’s Pro Football Hall of Fame speech is ready to share with millions of fans, his friends and family, but it hasn’t been the easiest process.

Much more difficult, Fitzgerald lost his father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., earlier this summer. Fitzgerald Sr. — a respected former sports journalist whom Fitzgerald called the rock of his family — was supposed to be part of the festivities, set to introduce his son in Canton.

“When my pops passed away, obviously, there was some other things that I needed to add in there,” Fitzgerald told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke.

“It’s impossible to thank everybody who’s contributed to your life in a meaningful way since the time I was seven years old, when I first started this football journey. That’s the part that’s hard. You’re trying to get it right.”

Instead, Fitzgerald’s son, Devin, will do the honors of introducing his father.

Fitzgerald said he is looking forward to the experience his son will get by being on the stage with legends of the game.

Devin Fitzgerald is a wide receiver at Notre Dame, making strides in his own football journey.

“It was going to be my dad, that was initially the plan … and I thought, what better way to have an experience with my son,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s now pursuing his own football career. For him to be there, sitting next to Jerry Rice and Tim Brown and Paul Warfield and Lance Alworth and all of these amazing players who paved the way for this great game to continue to grow and expand, to think he’s sitting there on this stage.

“As he goes back to training camp at Notre Dame, I hope it lights a fire about the possibilities if he works really hard, what could possibly happen. And so that was one of the main reasons I wanted him to be a part of it.”

 

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Fitzgerald will be inducted on Aug. 8, along with Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig. Fitzgerald was a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer and arguably the most beloved Arizona sports figure of all time, making his speech must-see for Cardinals fans everywhere.

Anquan Boldin congratulates Larry Fitzgerald

If anyone had a front-row seat to Fitzgerald’s journey from top-four draft pick to superstar, it was fellow standout wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Boldin played with Fitzgerald from 2004-09, and if he were on the stage in Canton, this is what he would say about his former teammate:

“Fitz was the ultimate teammate,” Boldin told Wolf & Luke. “When you talk about loyalty, a guy who loves to win, a guy who loves to compete, a guy who’s going to work his butt off and do everything that you ask of him, that’s Fitz.

“For me, this is a proud moment in my career to see him get the flowers that he deserves. To see him honored in this way, because I mean, people get to see what you do on Sundays — obviously you bring people to their feet when you score touchdowns or you make amazing catches — but people don’t understand the work that went on behind the scenes Monday through Saturday.

“So much that goes into a player making the Hall of Fame that the fans don’t get to see that side of it. I feel privileged to have witnessed it firsthand, the work that he put in behind the scenes and to see him finally get his flowers is definitely a proud moment for me.”

Boldin said he called Fitzgerald as soon as he could when the announcement came down that the latter reached the Hall of Fame.

“I’ve seen Fitz grow up,” Boldin said. “When Fitz got drafted, he was what, 20 years old? He was the kid out there grabbing the GM’s legs, making them fall down in practice. That was Fitz. He was real playful. Just to see him mature over the years as a man, not only as a player, but as a father, I couldn’t be more proud.”

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