Larry Fitzgerald enters Cardinals Ring of Honor October 25

Fitzgerald met the media Thursday ahead of the big day, and he started by owning up to how he left.

Darren Urban

@Cardschatter

Larry Fitzgerald speaks ahead of his Ring of Honor day Sunday. Noted he never really got a chance to say farewell but that’s just him. “I have a little Irish in me.” Did an Irish goodbye.

That is about as Larry as it gets. He played 17 seasons, all of them in Arizona, finished 2nd in NFL history in catches and receiving yards, and then walked out without a press conference, a tour or a goodbye. He just stopped showing up. He called it an Irish goodbye, his little nod to the Fitzgerald name, and it's hard to be mad about it. The most humble superstar of his generation didn't want a farewell tour. Sunday is the farewell he never had, whether he likes it or not.

He also picked the date for a reason. It wasn't just whatever home game the Cardinals had open.

Darren Urban

@Cardschatter

Larry Fitzgerald said one of the reasons he wanted to do his ROH ceremony this weekend was because Notre Dame is on the bye and son/WR Devin can make the game.

Devin Fitzgerald is a freshman wideout at Notre Dame, and he wears No. 11, same as his dad. He went to Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, so he grew up in the Cardinals building watching his old man work. Planning your own jersey retirement around your kid's college bye week is the most dad move possible, and honestly it's the right call. The Fighting Irish are off, Devin flies home, and the guy whose number is going up in the rafters is wearing that same number in South Bend.

The numbers say how big this is. Fitzgerald becomes just the 6th player in franchise history to have his number retired and the 20th name in the Ring of Honor. It comes about 11 weeks after he was enshrined in Canton on August 8. He's the franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns and games played. No one is close. Owner Michael Bidwill put it simply when the honor was announced: nobody who has worn a Cardinals uniform deserves it more.

And Fitzgerald knows what that No. 11 meant in the stands, not just on the field.

Bo Brack

@BoBrack

“That responsibility was never lost on me.” Larry Fitzgerald on what it meant seeing so many No. 11 jerseys in the stands and understanding the standard that came with being a Cardinals franchise icon. t.co/93aE9CTkY2

Every Cardinals game for almost 2 decades had a sea of red 11s in it, through the lean years and the Super Bowl run. Fitzgerald didn't make Thursday about himself, either. He spent part of it shouting out the trainers, staffers and behind-the-scenes employees who he said don't get the accolades and recognition they deserve. That's exactly why the No. 11 jerseys never went in the closet when he stopped playing.

Darren Urban

@Cardschatter

"I want to say just how much I appreciate (the fans). What it meant to be able to don that Cardinals helmet." Sunday, @LarryFitzgerald will finally say goodbye to the #AZCardinals Birdgang. Story ⬇️⬇️⬇️

So here's what to watch Sunday at State Farm Stadium: halftime vs. Denver, Devin in the building, and a guy who skipped his goodbye once standing in front of Birdgang and actually saying it. Bring tissues. Larry might pull another Irish goodbye after the ceremony, but this time the whole stadium gets to see him off first.