Overview
- Fitzgerald told reporters in Canton on Thursday that he has not committed to retirement and prefers to describe career endings as transitions rather than using the word "retire."
- The comments came as he prepared for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026.
- He finished a 17-year career with the Arizona Cardinals with 17,492 receiving yards, 1,432 catches and 121 touchdowns, placing him among the NFL's all-time leaders.
- Fitzgerald said he thought about leaving to chase a championship but never seriously pursued joining another team because he valued helping build the Cardinals and serving his Arizona community.
- He traced his view on retirement to a conversation he overheard between his grandfather and John Stroger, and he walked away quietly after the 2020 season, with his Hall of Fame induction now framing his legacy beyond statistics.