To the surprise of absolutely no one, Larry Fitzgerald delivered an incredible speech during this Saturday's Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.
Fitzgerald, an 11-time Pro Bowler and former Walter Payton Man of the Year, was named a first-ballot Hall of Famer back in February. It wasn't until this weekend that he officially received his bust and golden jacket.
During his 14-minute speech, Fitzgerald thanked countless coaches, trainers and teammates. He even cracked a joke towards one of his mentors, Hall of Fame wideout Cris Carter.
"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 said.
Before he walked off the stage, Fitzgerald delivered a heartfelt message to his three sons - Devin, Apollo and Milos.
"Surround yourself with people who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear," Fitzgerald told his sons. "Those are the people that love you. Copy their examples and remember: there’s never much traffic on the extra mile in life. Don’t just pursue excellence for yourself. Help other people pursue it, too. That’s the part of this story that matters the most. Not the follows, not the fame, but the people you travel with. The values you uphold. In the end, it’s not just about the excellence. It’s about the people who help get you there."
Fitzgerald is a true NFL legend.
Although he never ended up winning a Super Bowl, there's no question Fitzgerald is one of the greatest playmakers in NFL history. The Arizona Cardinals star hauled in 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns.
The best stat about Fitzgerald's career is that he has more career tackles than dropped passes. That's a testament to his exceptional hands.
Congratulations to Larry Legend on earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.
