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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.This article was updated on Aug. 10, 2026.
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who starred for the Panthers from 2002 to 2003, received professional football’s highest honor during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Fitzgerald's permanent place in Canton commemorates a career distinguished by extraordinary production, remarkable consistency and an impact that extended well beyond the football field. During a spectacular 17-year NFL career spent entirely with the Arizona Cardinals, Fitzgerald compiled 1,432 receptions for 17,492 yards, both ranking second in league history behind Jerry Rice. His 121 touchdown receptions rank sixth all-time.
Yet the excellence that ultimately carried Fitzgerald to Canton was first displayed in Pittsburgh. In just two seasons with the Panthers, Fitzgerald totaled 161 receptions for 2,677 yards and 34 receiving touchdowns, a Pitt record. He caught a touchdown pass in 18 consecutive games, establishing an NCAA record at the time.
[Watch a recap of the weekend’s festivities.]
Fitzgerald delivered one of the finest individual seasons in college football history in 2003, producing 92 receptions for 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns despite routinely facing double- and triple-team coverage. He led the nation in receiving yards per game and touchdown catches, won the Biletnikoff Award and became the first sophomore to receive the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
“The city of Pittsburgh gave me two of the best years of my entire life,” Fitzgerald said at the ceremony. “It was a time filled with incredible accomplishments. I was excelling athletically, but I was also in the depths of my emotions, having lost both a parent and a teammate just two months apart. The love and support I was surrounded by at that time, from Coach Walt Harris and his staff, is something I’ll never forget.”
Fitzgerald has consistently represented the University while building a legacy rooted in excellence, humility and service. He returned to campus in May 2025 to address Pitt’s graduating class and receive an honorary Doctor of Letters. His commitment to serving others also earned him the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and the 2025 Heisman Humanitarian Award.
Read the full story on Fitzgerald’s enshrinement from Pitt Athletics.
A Hall of Fame powerhouse
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story noted that Aaron Donald would be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2029. The story was edited on Aug. 31, 2026, after the defensive tackle signed a one-year contract to return to the Los Angeles Rams, delaying his eligibility.
Fitzgerald is the 11th former Panther elected to the Hall of Fame, a feat matched by only three universities — Michigan ties Pitt with 11, while Notre Dame and the University of Southern California each have 14. In other words, Pitt has had more success launching Hall of Fame careers than the storied football programs at Alabama, Ohio State and Penn State, among many others.
Pitt’s first hall of fame showing was in 1973, when Joe Schmidt, a linebacker who led the Detroit Lions to two NFL championships, was inducted. In the ensuing decades, multiple Panthers arrived in Canton for their induction speeches, including Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears, who redefined the tight end position in the NFL, and the Dallas Cowboys’ running back Tony Dorsett, who won the Heisman Trophy and the 1976 national championship at Pitt.
One person who closely watched each of those future NFL greats was Bill Hillgrove, Pitt football broadcaster since 1970. While other universities became famous for cultivating players at particular positions, Hillgrove said, “Pitt has produced Hall of Famers at just about every position, and I think that’s a tribute to the athletic program, and certainly to the University.”
For the Panthers, the last quarter-century has been a veritable gold rush of the Hall of Fame’s signature jackets. Since 2005, starting with quarterback Dan Marino and leading up to Fitzgerald, a total of eight former Pitt players have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That includes James “Jimbo” Covert, an offensive tackle who played eight years with the Chicago Bears and is a current Pitt trustee.
“My experiences at the University of Pittsburgh shaped me as a person, from the time I stepped on campus to the time I put on my Gold Jacket,” said Covert. “Pitt challenged me on and off the field and prepared me not only for life in the NFL, but for life beyond it. I’ve only become more impressed with Pitt’s impact as I continue my involvement as a trustee. We foster an environment of world-class academics and research, but more importantly, a culture that helps students grow into leaders.”
The steady flow of Panther greats has included Chris Doleman, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Curtis Martin, Darrelle Revis and, now, Fitzgerald.
Keep scrolling to learn about all of Pitt’s hall-of-famers over the years.
Top photo by Zach Lantz/Pitt Athletics