THE APEX TIMES
Cardinals to retire Larry Fitzgerald’s No. 11, reliving 11 defining moments from his Hall of Fame career
Arizona is set to put Fitzgerald into the Ring of Honor and retire his number at halftime Sunday against the Denver Broncos, honoring a 17-season run built on big plays, leadership, and relentless presence on the field.
The Arizona Cardinals will honor Larry Fitzgerald at halftime Sunday against the Denver Broncos, placing the Hall of Fame wide receiver into the team’s Ring of Honor and retiring his No. 11. In its tribute, the team framed Fitzgerald’s legacy around 11 distinct moments that defined his career, from playoff grandeur to off-the-field influence.
Fitzgerald’s production never needed a highlight reel to explain it. Across 17 seasons and 263 games, Arizona’s franchise icon recorded 1,432 catches for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns, one of which came as a passing touchdown.
One of the featured moments came in the 2015 NFC Divisional Playoffs against the Green Bay Packers, when Fitzgerald caught a Carson Palmer pass across the body and ran 75 yards to set up a game-changing sequence. The Cardinals’ tribute highlights how the play stood out not just for the distance, but for its timing in a moment Arizona nearly lost.
The list also reaches back to 2007, when Fitzgerald became part of one of the sport’s most replayed ends to a half. With a second-quarter Hail Mary, the ball ended up in his hands, and after he secured it, Fitzgerald flipped it back to the official and sprinted toward the tunnel before the extra point.
Another moment featured in the Cardinals’ series is Fitzgerald’s 2008 Divisional Round touchdown in Carolina. The team’s recap spotlights a crossing pattern before halftime, followed by his famous dive for the pylon, a play it describes as the first clear report that Arizona could shock its way into Super Bowl contention.
The Cardinals also singled out Fitzgerald’s rare celebration behaviors, including one touchdown spike. It notes that he spiked the ball only once, after a two-point conversion in 2018 versus the San Francisco 49ers, and that he later addressed the choice in a personal, reflective way. The tribute closes with Fitzgerald’s final career touchdown, described as a backward fall to the ground as he secured the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in a COVID-era atmosphere at State Farm Stadium.
Why It Matters
- A retired number at halftime is one of the clearest markers of team identity, and Fitzgerald’s presence ties the franchise’s modern era directly to its championship aspirations.
- The moments the Cardinals chose emphasize not just stat lines, but clutch playmaking in postseason and the kind of leadership that showed up in preparation and reaction.
- Even in a season context where younger receivers are building roles, Fitzgerald’s on-field habits offer a reference point for what the organization historically valued at the position.
- The tribute underscores that Fitzgerald’s legacy is being preserved through institutional ritual, not just individual accolades, with the Ring of Honor serving as Arizona’s ongoing report of standards.
Key Facts
- The Cardinals will retire Larry Fitzgerald’s No. 11 and add him to the Ring of Honor at halftime Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
- Arizona’s tribute credits Fitzgerald with 1,432 receptions, 17,492 receiving yards, and 121 total touchdowns (including one touchdown pass) over 17 seasons.
- Among the moments highlighted is Fitzgerald’s 75-yard run after a catch in the 2015 NFC Divisional Playoffs vs the Packers.
- The Cardinals also feature Fitzgerald’s 2007 “Hail Mary again” sequence vs the 49ers, including the handoff back to an official and his sprint into the tunnel.
- The list includes his signature 2008 Divisional Round dive for a touchdown versus the Panthers.
- The tribute notes Fitzgerald spiked the ball once, in 2018 vs the 49ers, and highlights his final touchdown against the Eagles.