Larry Fitzgerald Jr., one of the most prolific receivers in NFL history, was officially enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Fitzgerald was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility following a career defined by record-breaking production and consistency. He is the 11th player from the University of Pittsburgh to be inducted, moving the school into a tie for third among all colleges for most Hall of Fame representatives.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pitt star Larry Fitzgerald recounts moment he learned of his Pro Football Hall of Fame nomination
During a 17-year professional career spent entirely with the Arizona Cardinals, Fitzgerald recorded 1,432 receptions for 17,492 yards. Both totals rank second in NFL history behind Jerry Rice. Fitzgerald also ranks sixth all-time with 121 touchdown receptions and tied a league record by catching at least 50 passes in every season of his career.
Fitzgerald was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and earned three Associated Press First Team All-Pro honors. He was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100 All-Time Team. During Arizona’s run to Super Bowl XLIII, he set a postseason record with 546 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in four games.
Before his NFL career, Fitzgerald played for the Pitt Panthers from 2002 to 2003. He totaled 161 receptions for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns, setting a school record for receiving scores. He established an NCAA record at the time by catching a touchdown pass in 18 consecutive games. In 2003, he won the Biletnikoff Award and became the first sophomore to be named the Walter Camp Player of the Year.
Fitzgerald was a unanimous first-team All-American and finished second in the 2003 Heisman Trophy voting.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Larry Fitzgerald shares why he chose Pitt, the lasting impact it had on him
During his enshrinement speech, he spoke about the role Pitt played in his journey.
“Then I got to go to the University of Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh gave me two of the best years of my entire life,” Fitzgerald said. “It was a time filled with incredible accomplishments. I was excelling athletically, but I was also in the depths of my emotions, having lost both a parent and a teammate just two months apart. The love and support I was surrounded by at that time, from Coach Walt Harris and his staff, is something I’ll never forget.”
The former receiver has received numerous honors for his work off the field, including the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and the 2025 Heisman Humanitarian Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024. In May 2025, Fitzgerald returned to the University of Pittsburgh campus to address the graduating class and receive an honorary Doctor of Letters.
Fitzgerald continues his philanthropic work through The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation, which he established in honor of his mother, Carol. The organization works to expand access to education, technology and breast cancer resources in underserved communities.
During his speech in Canton, Fitzgerald encouraged others to focus on service and mentorship.
“Bring others along with you,” Fitzgerald said. “Don’t just pursue excellence for yourself; help others pursue it, too. That’s the part of this story that matters most. It’s not the likes. It’s not the follows. It’s not the fame. It’s the people you travel with and the values you uphold. And in the end, it’s not just about excellence. It’s about the people you help get there.”
Fitzgerald was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside four other players: Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.
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