For Larry Fitzgerald, retirement is merely a state of mind rather than a final destination.
As Fitzgerald prepares for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday, he stands firm on his belief that he hasn’t truly retired. In fact, he challenges the very notion of retirement altogether.
The acclaimed wide receiver credits a pivotal conversation between his grandfather and John Stroger, a former Chicago politician, for shaping his perspective on retirement.
Reflecting on that discussion, Fitzgerald shared on Thursday with ESPN, “I recall them conversing about how retirement kills more people in our country than anything else. That idea has always resonated deeply with me. Therefore, I just don’t buy into the concept of retirement.”
“To me, it’s all about moving smoothly into different phases of life, especially for athletes,” he added, emphasizing a continual journey rather than a conclusive ending.
Fitzgerald, who spent his entire 17-year NFL career with the Cardinals, played his final game at 37 years old in 2020.
“Retired? What do you mean retired?” Fitzgerald said about the word. “There’s no retirement in sight. And, so, I don’t know. I protest the word more than the actual thing.
“So, I just want to acknowledge that.”
The questions surrounding Fitzgerald’s retirement followed him during his final few seasons, with the 11-time Pro Bowler insisting that he did not want a farewell tour to close out his NFL career.
During his NFL tenure, Fitzgerald racked up 17,492 receiving yards and 121 touchdowns on 1,432 receptions. He was also named to the league’s 2010s All-Decade team in 2020.
Despite remaining in Arizona for his entire career, Fitzgerald revealed that he had considered leaving the Cardinals at one point.
“I would be lying to you if it didn’t cross my mind, I didn’t think about it, maybe even had conversations about it, but never seriously tried to put it in motion,” Fitzgerald said. “I loved where I was at.
“And quite frankly, I don’t know if it would’ve meant the same for me if I went to somewhere where it was already some super team.”
Fitzgerald is set to enter the Hall of Fame alongside Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig as part of the Class of 2026.