The first induction of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was a family affair.
Larry Fitzgerald, the legendary Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, had his bronze bust installed in Canton’s hallowed halls first on Saturday.
It’s a fitting honor for a man who holds a number of receiving records and sits second on the all-time list of receptions and receiving yards.
The ceremony saw Fitzgerald applauded by his fellow Hall of Famers and a crowd gathered at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. After an introduction from ESPN’s Chris Berman and a video played showing off his career highlights, Fitzgerald’s son helped reveal his father’s statue.
As Larry walked out in his gold jacket, his son and Notre Dame freshman wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald pulled the cover off the bronze sculpture to rounds of applause.
Fitzgerald then gave a speech directed at Cardinals fans, as well as the mentors he had growing up in Minnesota.
Arizona Cardinals icon Larry Fitzgerald has been enshrined in the Hall of Fame
Fitzgerald is one of the greatest pass catchers in NFL history and is second in all-time catches
His son, Devin Fitzgerald – a wide receiver at Notre Dame – helped unveil his father’s bust
That included the late coach Dennis Green, who gave Fitzgerald a job as a ball boy with the Minnesota Vikings.
Fitzgerald recalled that Green ‘came into my life’ through the influence of his father, Minnesota sports journalist Larry Fitzgerald Sr, who passed away just months ago.
Years after Larry Jr left the University of Pittsburgh for the NFL, Green drafted him in the first round when he was coaching the Cardinals.
‘Trust me, we had more personnel needs than wide receiver… but Coach Green and general manager Rod Graves trusted what I had to offer and picked me anyway,’ Fitzgerald said in his speech.
He also thanked and joked with two Vikings icons and Hall of Famers: Cris Carter and Randy Moss.
After mentioning Carter, Fitzgerald joked: ‘Uncle Cris, since we got all them pleasantries out the way, I hope we both can agree my hands have always been better than yours.’
Carter was in stitches as the crowd joined in with laughter and applause.
When it came to the other half of that dynamic 90s Vikings receiver duo, Fitzgerald’s joke about Moss was more heartfelt.
Fitzgerald made jokes with mentors Cris Carter (R) and Randy Moss (not pictured)
He also paid tribute to two passed pillars of his life: coach Dennis Green and his father, Larry Sr
‘People asked me all the time what I learned from Randy Moss and my answer was always the same: I learned nothing. Because there was nothing I could do like him on the football field, they called him The Freak for a reason,’ Fitzgerald said.
He added: ‘Randy, being acknowledged by you – someone bigger than life – it meant the world to me and I’m so happy you’re healthy, brother.’
In another emotional moment, Larry addressed the death of his father: ‘My dad, who I lost recently, is also here in spirit. I can feel his presence.
‘He was the foundation of our family and the standard that I measured myself against. Dad, I know there were times where it must have felt like you were carrying the weight of the world, but you always showed up, and your willingness to love and sacrifice with the consistency was the blueprint that I used to raise your grandsons.’
Of course, Fitzgerald also shouted out the fans who supported him throughout his career in the NFL.
‘I just want to show a little love to my Cardinal fans here in attendance today and to the Cardinals fans back home in Arizona,’ Fitzgerald said.
‘You guys supported us on and off the field over the years. You showed up at home games, you showed up at away games, through wins and losses.
‘It’s been 22 years and counting, Arizona, and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to replenish the well of goodwill I have been lucky enough to drink from.’
