This Sunday at State Farm Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals face the Denver Broncos, but it is a special day. It is the day that Cardinals fans can finally say goodbye to and honor legendary wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
During halftime, he will be honored for his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will have his No. 11 retired and he will be added to the Ring of Honor.
He also will receive his Ring of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hall of Famers get a bronze bust on display the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. They get the gold jacket upon enshrinement, and they get a ring.
Cardinals fans never got to formally say goodbye to Fitzgerald. He never announced his retirement and simply did not play again after the 2020 season. Since then, he has refused to say he retired, just that he moved on past football.
“I told you a long time ago — I'm a Fitzgerald, so there's some Irish in there a long, long way back," he said in his press conference on Thursday. "The Irish goodbye is kind of my thing. If you ever see me at an event, say hello quick because I'm going to find that, 'hey, where's that bathroom at?' I'm going to sneak out to the car."
He was more serious as he explained his decision.
"I left in 2020 and as you guys all remember, it was a very different time. Playing in empty stadiums and not really having the same media availability and everything became just Zoom. I felt like my goodbye was on Zoom and it'd be great to be able to come out there on that field. I've been to a couple of games since at home, probably more on the road. So to be able to go in that stadium and feel that energy again; I'm just hoping when I go out there, we're up at half taking care of business and that the fans will be in a lot better mood.”
There won't be much time on the field. The announcement will be made, and will speak for a minute or two.
But for Cardinals fans, it is the moment we have finally waited for — to cheer on Fitzgerald one final time and say goodbye, showing him the love we have because of his 17-year career with the Cardinals.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals fans can finally say goodbye to and cheer on Larry Fitzgerald