Larry Fitzgerald thanks Randy Moss in Hall of Fame speech

Larry Fitzgerald used his Hall of Fame induction speech on Saturday night to publicly thank Randy Moss, recalling how the former Vikings wide receiver inspired the 20-year-old ball boy who would one day become a first-ballot Hall of Famer himself.

Fitzgerald spent two seasons as a Vikings locker-room attendant in the late 1990s while Moss was still a rookie. Moss’s explosive rookie season in 1998—69 catches, 1,313 yards, 17 touchdowns—helped turn the Vikings into one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses and left an indelible mark on Fitzgerald. The future Cardinals star, then just 14, watched Moss from the sidelines, absorbing the kind of dominance that would define his own Hall of Fame career. Fitzgerald later called those years a “foundational experience,” shaping his approach to the game and his respect for elite talent.

Moss, now 47 and a Hall of Famer himself, was in Canton for the ceremony and stood for a lengthy ovation when Fitzgerald mentioned him. Fitzgerald said, “Randy, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you for being a great example of what it means to be a professional.” The moment underscored the unscripted bonds formed in football’s locker rooms—mentorships that often go unnoticed but shape careers. Fitzgerald, who retired after the 2021 season with 1,432 catches and 17,492 receiving yards, ranked third all-time in both categories when he hung up his cleats.

The acknowledgment comes as Fitzgerald transitions into a leadership role in the NFL Players Association and prepares for a future beyond the field. His speech highlighted the importance of remembering the figures who shaped young athletes long before they became stars. For Moss, whose own induction is pending, the moment was a reminder of the ripple effects of greatness—how a rookie’s performance in Minnesota over a quarter-century ago still resonates with a future Hall of Famer today.