Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame moment in Canton was part tribute, part reflection, and part family message, with the Cardinals great using his 14 minutes on stage to thank the people who shaped him.
Fitzgerald was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame today in Canton, Ohio, joining Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig. His son, Devin Fitzgerald, introduced him before the longtime Cardinals wide receiver took the microphone.
He opened by saluting the Hall of Fame voters and the other inductees, saying, "I want to thank the Hall of Fame voters for this tremendous honor. It's a privilege to be here and share this stage with four men I truly respect. Between us, we've got catches, passes, tackles, kicks, and rushes all covered," he said.
From there, Fitzgerald took the audience back to Minneapolis and Martin Luther King Park, the place he said his journey began. He remembered a childhood filled with firsts there - touchdowns, home runs, dunks, fights, even a first kiss - and joked, "I almost drowned in the pool there one time."
He also made sure to recognize the Cardinals fans who followed him throughout his career. "I just want to show a little love to my Cardinal fans here in attendance today.
To the Cardinal fans back home in Arizona, you guys supported us on and off the field over the years. You showed up at home games and showed up at away games, through wins and losses," he said.
Then came a line that captured just how long Arizona has been part of his story: "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've been lucky enough to drink from."
Fitzgerald spent a large portion of the speech thanking the mentors who helped shape him, starting with Cris Carter, whom he called "Uncle Cris." He recalled Carter taking him into his home and into his family, and said, "Your support was endless, and I hope that today feels like a small return on your investment," he said.
He couldn’t resist a little swagger, either: "And 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."
Fitzgerald also paid tribute to Kurt Warner, calling him "my other teammate I want to thank." He praised Warner’s faith, community service and work as a teammate, husband and father, and added a detail only Fitzgerald could toss into a Hall of Fame speech: "and also his weird, insatiable love for spaghetti," he said.
He said Warner pushed him to raise his standard, telling him, "Kurt, when you demanded that I elevate my preparation, consistency, and accountability, you dragged me into life's winner circle. The timing couldn't have been better for a young, impressionable kid, and I continue to aspire to be the kind of man that you are."
The most personal part of the speech came when Fitzgerald turned to his parents, Carol and Larry, both of whom are no longer alive. He said he still tries every day to make them proud, and spoke directly to his mother about the impact she had on him.
"Mom, you were the first champion I knew and the greatest one of all. You lost your fight with breast cancer, but in the years that you lived, you taught me how to love.
You showed me how to fight with integrity. You set the standard for our family and our community, and you always will be an example of a life well lived," said Fitzgerald.
He said his father remains with him in spirit, calling him the foundation of the family and the standard he measured himself against. Fitzgerald also said his father’s love and sacrifice provided the blueprint he used to raise his grandsons.
The speech closed with a direct message to his sons, Devin, Apollo and Milos. Fitzgerald praised each boy for what he sees in them and urged them to keep their circle honest. "Surround yourself with people who tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear," Fitzgerald said.
He finished with a bigger lesson about success and service, saying, "Those are the people who actually love you. Copy their examples and remember, there's never much traffic on the extra mile in life.
Bring others along with you. Don't just pursue excellence for yourself.
Help others pursue it, too. That's the part of this story that matters the most.
It's not the likes, it's not the follows, it's not the fame, but the people you travel with. The values you uphold.
And in the end, it's not just about excellence. It's about the people who you help get there.
"Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and may God bless you all."
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