Inside The Panthers

Pitt Legend Larry Fitzgerald Inducted in CFB Hall of Fame

Pitt Panthers legend Larry Fitzgerald earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Dominic Campbell

Oct 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Former Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald reacts on the sideline against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Former Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald reacts on the sideline against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images / Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers legend Larry Fitzgerald received the highest honor for his time with the program, as he earned his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The National Football Foundation honored Fitzgerald and the rest of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class at the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at The Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Fitzgerald became the 25th player in Pitt history to earn induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and did it in his first year of eligibility.

He came to Pitt football after serving as one of the best high school wide receivers in Minnesota in the early 2000s. He excelled for the program in just two seasons in 2002-03, making 161 catches for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Fitzgerald had one of the best seasons ever for the Panthers in 2003, where he worked with Pittsburgh native and quarterback Rod Rutherford to make 92 catches for 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns. The receiving yards and receiving touchdowns both rank as the most for a Panther in a single season, while his 92 receptions rank third most.

He had 207 receiving yards in a 42-32 road win over Rutgers in Week 7 and 201 receiving yards in the 35-31 loss on the road to Toledo in Week 3, which both rank fifth and eighth most in a single game in Pitt history, respectively.

He earned a number of honors and won numerous awards for his performance that season, including First Team All-Big East, Big East Offensive Player of the Year, unanimous All-American, and both the Walter Camp and Biletnikoff Awards, identifying him as one of the best players in the country and the top wide receiver in the FBS, respectively.

Fitzgerald spoke at the ceremony about his time at Pitt and that his team kept him going after he lost his mom during in spring practices in his freshman year. They also stuck together after they lost wide receiver Billy Gaines to a deadly fall prior to the start of his sophomore season, which helped him understood the love each of his teammates had for him and each other.

The Arizona Cardinals drafted Fitzgerald the the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, a franchise Fitzgerald would play all 17 years of his NFL career.

He finished his NFL career with 1,432 catches for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards rank second best all-time, behind Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, while his receiving touchdowns ranks sixth best.

Fitzgerald made 11 Pro Bowls (2005, 2007-13, 2015-17), a two-time Second Team All-Pro in 2009 and 2011 and is a member of the NFL 100th Anniversary Team and the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team .

His best season came in 2008, earning his sole First Team All-Pro honor. He led the NFL with 12 receiving touchdowns, while also making 96 catches and a career-high 1,431 yards. He also had an incredible postseason, getting the Cardinals within two minutes of a Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, before the defense failed to stop a last-minute drive.

Fitzgerald also led the NFL in receptions twice in 2005 with 103 and 2016 with a career-high 107. He would also lead the NFL with receiving touchdowns in 2009 with a career-high 13. 

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

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