Which Retired Cardinals are Locks for Hall of Fame?

There's a handful of Arizona Cardinals who could enter the Hall of Fame soon.

Arizona Cardinals

The goal of any professional football player is to one day enter the halls of Canton, OH where the Pro Football Hall of Fame resides. 

Only the best of the best to ever step on a football field have been enshrined, upholding what is still the gold standard each player desires to emulate on each and every snap. 

The Arizona Cardinals have a few of their own in the Hall, as over 20 former players/coaches/executives have a bronze bust. Names from Charles Bidwill to Alan Faneca stretch between the decades. 

However, the Cardinals are set to see a few more of their own etch their name in football immortality. The 33rd Team recently released their list of retired players who are locks to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Cardinals fans shouldn't be surprised to see who made the cut. 

33rd Team Says These Former Cardinals are Locks to Make Hall of Fame

Larry Fitzgerald

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

"Although he never officially announced he has retired, Larry Fitzgerald is in front of the line of what could be a crowded class of first-time eligible players in 2026. The best wide receiver of his era, Fitzgerald never fit the Diva Receiver category in his 17 pro seasons with the Arizona Cardinals," wrote The 33rd Team.

“'Fitz defined class while making 11 Pro Bowls, the 2010s All-Decade Team, and earning the Walter Payton Award as Man of the Year in 2016,' Hall of Fame voter Barry Wilner said. 'He caught 1,432 passes, scored 121 touchdowns and did it while playing with only one elite quarterback, Kurt Warner.'

"No discussion needed."

J.J. Watt

"The pre-eminent edge rusher and a dominating run-stopping force, Watt won three Defensive Player of the Year honors, tying him with Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald for the most, and a Walter Payton Man of the Year award," wrote The 33rd Team.

"Had injuries not slowed him later in his 12-year career, the Texans great might have won more such awards. An easy choice for the All-Decade team of the 2010s, Watt made five All-Pro squads and twice led the league in sacks

“'What I loved about J.J. Watt is that he excelled wherever he played,' Hall of Fame voter Clark Judge said. “As a defensive end who occasionally moved inside, he was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time first-team All-Pro. But when the Texans tried him on the other side of the ball, he starred there, too, with three TD catches. Watt is such a lock as a first-ballot choice that the selector who presents him should save everyone time by simply saying his name. Then sitting down.'"

Players who also made stints with Arizona considered "locks" by The 33rd Team are Terrell Suggs and Adrian Peterson. 

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