GLENDALE – With the introduction of Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe into the football Hall of Fame as a part of the 2025 class, the 2026 class is the talk of discussion. Next year’s class is stacked, with Arizona Cardinals legendary wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as one of the headliners. To be inducted, Fitzgerald must receive 80% of the votes from the 50-member selection committee, or be one of the top three vote getters if less than three candidates receive less than 80% threshold.
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Feb 13, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Larry Fitzgerald at the Super Bowl Host Committee Handoff press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Cardinals legend headlines stacked 2026 class:
Fitzgerald has 17,492 career receiving yards, the second-most of all-time. He has the all-time single-postseason record for receiving yards (546) and touchdowns (seven) in a single-postseason during the 2008 Super Bowl run. Despite not ending that run or his career with a championship, Fitzgerald is widely considered one of the most elite wide receivers in the 21st century.
Feb 1, 2009; Tampa, FL, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) runs away from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92) to score a touchdown during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium. The Steelers beat the Cardinals 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
The other candidates that have a high chance of making it at a first-ballot is Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees, with Frank Gore and Jason Witten having an outside chance. Fitzgerald is a safe bet to be a first-ball Hall of Famer, but the amount of historic players and careers being eligible could hinder the 41-year-old making the 80% threshold. However, he’ll just need to make the top three of vote getters and become the 24th Cardinals player to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
