×
NFL’s best remaining free agents at every position after the 2026 Draft We’re about to embark on a second, smaller wave of NFL free agency — the post-draft signings. This is the time teams look to fill holes they weren’t able to patch during the draft, predominantly grabbing aging veterans to round out the roster entering training camp. Notably, any signings moving forward will not count against the 2027 NFL Draft comp pick formula.These won’t be mammoth, multi-year deals, but rather one-year agreements and incentive-laden contracts. Let’s dive into the players who are available right now at every position, ranking the best five players who could fill those final gaps in 2026.Aaron RodgersTyrod TaylorRussell WilsonJimmy GaroppoloCooper RushIf your team still needs a quarterback, then God help you, because the guys left all stink. Aaron Rodgers is having another diva offseason where he hems and haws over retirement, or returning to the Steelers — so he’s not really on this list. Everyone else is washed at this point.Joe MixonNajee HarrisNick ChubbKareem HuntAntonio GibsonBoth Mixon and Harris missed all of 2025 with season-ending injuries, so they’re total dice rolls at this point — but still have the potential to be good if they are healthy. The other three in the top five can only give a few carries a game at this point in their careers, but they can’t handle a starting load.Stefon DiggsDeebo SamuelJauan JenningsTyreek HillKeenan AllenStefon Diggs has outstanding legal issues, which probably takes him off almost every team’s list. Tyreek Hill is the most eye-catching name, but he’s lost a step and doesn’t appear dominant anymore. The best bet might be Deebo Samuel, which at this point in his career is saying something.David NjokuZach ErtzJonnu SmithDarren WallerJohn FitzPatrickThe best bet at TE is to already have a plan, because the remaining available players is a sorry list.Taylor DeckerYosh NimanJack ConklinJonah WilliamsCam RobinsonTaylor Decker would be a legitimate upgrade for several teams. He was a low-tier left tackle in 2025 who was released by the Lions when they couldn’t agree to contract terms. Still, he’s a proven player with something left in the tank. Yosh Niman is an intriguing rotational tackle who played for the Panthers last season and looked good in limited time.Joel BitonioKevin ZeitlerBrady ChristensenDylan ParhamAlex CappaThe first three guys offer something here, but really outside of Bitonio and Zeitler you’re getting rotational players who can’t be relied on as starters.Ethan PocicJames DanielsGraham GlasgowAndre JamesSam MustipherEthan Pocic has some value, but the rest of the available centers are very poor.Joey BosaCameron JordanYetur Gross-MatosKyle Van NoyLeonard FloydJoey Bosa and Cameron Jordan still have ability as fringe starters, but likely more effective as rotational pass rushers. Everyone else available might as well be a coin toss whether they have anything left in the tank or not.Interior Defensive LinemenDavid OnyemataDaQuan JonesDJ ReaderCalais CampbellShelby HarrisOut of the interior linemen Onyemata and Jones would be talent upgrades for several teams. The rest of the position grouping are depth talents or veteran mentors.Bobby WagnerChris BoardGermaine PrattShaq ThompsonMatt MilanoBobby Wagner is an ageless wonder who remains a tackling machine, while Chris Board also represents starting value.Rasul DouglasTre’Davious WhiteAdoree JacksonTrevon DiggsMarshon LattimoreThere simply aren’t enough good corners in the NFL right now, and this list shows how deep the position has been plundered. Good luck if you still need a starter, because the cupboards are bare.Xavier WoodsChuck ClarkTerrell EdmundsJordan PoyerMike EdwardsNobody here is a starter. Backup or rotational guys only at this point.Graham GanoMatt PraterDaniel CarlsonThere are only three free agent kickers who were with other teams in 2025. These are your guys.Thomas MoresteadMatt HaackJamie GillanThere are also only three free agents at punter who were with teams last season. These are those guys. #NFLs #remaining #free #agents #position #Draft

NFL’s best remaining free agents at every position after the 2026 Draft

We’re about to embark on a second, smaller wave of NFL free agency — the post-draft signings. This is the time teams look to fill holes they weren’t able to patch during the draft, predominantly grabbing aging veterans to round out the roster entering training camp. Notably, any signings moving forward will not count against the 2027 NFL Draft comp pick formula.

These won’t be mammoth, multi-year deals, but rather one-year agreements and incentive-laden contracts. Let’s dive into the players who are available right now at every position, ranking the best five players who could fill those final gaps in 2026.

  1. Aaron Rodgers
  2. Tyrod Taylor
  3. Russell Wilson
  4. Jimmy Garoppolo
  5. Cooper Rush

If your team still needs a quarterback, then God help you, because the guys left all stink. Aaron Rodgers is having another diva offseason where he hems and haws over retirement, or returning to the Steelers — so he’s not really on this list. Everyone else is washed at this point.

  1. Joe Mixon
  2. Najee Harris
  3. Nick Chubb
  4. Kareem Hunt
  5. Antonio Gibson

Both Mixon and Harris missed all of 2025 with season-ending injuries, so they’re total dice rolls at this point — but still have the potential to be good if they are healthy. The other three in the top five can only give a few carries a game at this point in their careers, but they can’t handle a starting load.

  1. Stefon Diggs
  2. Deebo Samuel
  3. Jauan Jennings
  4. Tyreek Hill
  5. Keenan Allen

Stefon Diggs has outstanding legal issues, which probably takes him off almost every team’s list. Tyreek Hill is the most eye-catching name, but he’s lost a step and doesn’t appear dominant anymore. The best bet might be Deebo Samuel, which at this point in his career is saying something.

  1. David Njoku
  2. Zach Ertz
  3. Jonnu Smith
  4. Darren Waller
  5. John FitzPatrick

The best bet at TE is to already have a plan, because the remaining available players is a sorry list.

  1. Taylor Decker
  2. Yosh Niman
  3. Jack Conklin
  4. Jonah Williams
  5. Cam Robinson

Taylor Decker would be a legitimate upgrade for several teams. He was a low-tier left tackle in 2025 who was released by the Lions when they couldn’t agree to contract terms. Still, he’s a proven player with something left in the tank. Yosh Niman is an intriguing rotational tackle who played for the Panthers last season and looked good in limited time.

  1. Joel Bitonio
  2. Kevin Zeitler
  3. Brady Christensen
  4. Dylan Parham
  5. Alex Cappa

The first three guys offer something here, but really outside of Bitonio and Zeitler you’re getting rotational players who can’t be relied on as starters.

  1. Ethan Pocic
  2. James Daniels
  3. Graham Glasgow
  4. Andre James
  5. Sam Mustipher

Ethan Pocic has some value, but the rest of the available centers are very poor.

  1. Joey Bosa
  2. Cameron Jordan
  3. Yetur Gross-Matos
  4. Kyle Van Noy
  5. Leonard Floyd

Joey Bosa and Cameron Jordan still have ability as fringe starters, but likely more effective as rotational pass rushers. Everyone else available might as well be a coin toss whether they have anything left in the tank or not.

Interior Defensive Linemen

  1. David Onyemata
  2. DaQuan Jones
  3. DJ Reader
  4. Calais Campbell
  5. Shelby Harris

Out of the interior linemen Onyemata and Jones would be talent upgrades for several teams. The rest of the position grouping are depth talents or veteran mentors.

  1. Bobby Wagner
  2. Chris Board
  3. Germaine Pratt
  4. Shaq Thompson
  5. Matt Milano

Bobby Wagner is an ageless wonder who remains a tackling machine, while Chris Board also represents starting value.

  1. Rasul Douglas
  2. Tre’Davious White
  3. Adoree Jackson
  4. Trevon Diggs
  5. Marshon Lattimore

There simply aren’t enough good corners in the NFL right now, and this list shows how deep the position has been plundered. Good luck if you still need a starter, because the cupboards are bare.

  1. Xavier Woods
  2. Chuck Clark
  3. Terrell Edmunds
  4. Jordan Poyer
  5. Mike Edwards

Nobody here is a starter. Backup or rotational guys only at this point.

  1. Graham Gano
  2. Matt Prater
  3. Daniel Carlson

There are only three free agent kickers who were with other teams in 2025. These are your guys.

  1. Thomas Morestead
  2. Matt Haack
  3. Jamie Gillan

There are also only three free agents at punter who were with teams last season. These are those guys.

#NFLs #remaining #free #agents #position #Draft

Sports news

We’re about to embark on a second, smaller wave of NFL free agency — the post-draft signings. This is the time teams look to fill holes they weren’t able to patch during the draft, predominantly grabbing aging veterans to round out the roster entering training camp. Notably, any signings moving forward will not count against the 2027 NFL Draft comp pick formula.

These won’t be mammoth, multi-year deals, but rather one-year agreements and incentive-laden contracts. Let’s dive into the players who are available right now at every position, ranking the best five players who could fill those final gaps in 2026.

  1. Aaron Rodgers
  2. Tyrod Taylor
  3. Russell Wilson
  4. Jimmy Garoppolo
  5. Cooper Rush

If your team still needs a quarterback, then God help you, because the guys left all stink. Aaron Rodgers is having another diva offseason where he hems and haws over retirement, or returning to the Steelers — so he’s not really on this list. Everyone else is washed at this point.

  1. Joe Mixon
  2. Najee Harris
  3. Nick Chubb
  4. Kareem Hunt
  5. Antonio Gibson

Both Mixon and Harris missed all of 2025 with season-ending injuries, so they’re total dice rolls at this point — but still have the potential to be good if they are healthy. The other three in the top five can only give a few carries a game at this point in their careers, but they can’t handle a starting load.

  1. Stefon Diggs
  2. Deebo Samuel
  3. Jauan Jennings
  4. Tyreek Hill
  5. Keenan Allen

Stefon Diggs has outstanding legal issues, which probably takes him off almost every team’s list. Tyreek Hill is the most eye-catching name, but he’s lost a step and doesn’t appear dominant anymore. The best bet might be Deebo Samuel, which at this point in his career is saying something.

  1. David Njoku
  2. Zach Ertz
  3. Jonnu Smith
  4. Darren Waller
  5. John FitzPatrick

The best bet at TE is to already have a plan, because the remaining available players is a sorry list.

  1. Taylor Decker
  2. Yosh Niman
  3. Jack Conklin
  4. Jonah Williams
  5. Cam Robinson

Taylor Decker would be a legitimate upgrade for several teams. He was a low-tier left tackle in 2025 who was released by the Lions when they couldn’t agree to contract terms. Still, he’s a proven player with something left in the tank. Yosh Niman is an intriguing rotational tackle who played for the Panthers last season and looked good in limited time.

  1. Joel Bitonio
  2. Kevin Zeitler
  3. Brady Christensen
  4. Dylan Parham
  5. Alex Cappa

The first three guys offer something here, but really outside of Bitonio and Zeitler you’re getting rotational players who can’t be relied on as starters.

  1. Ethan Pocic
  2. James Daniels
  3. Graham Glasgow
  4. Andre James
  5. Sam Mustipher

Ethan Pocic has some value, but the rest of the available centers are very poor.

  1. Joey Bosa
  2. Cameron Jordan
  3. Yetur Gross-Matos
  4. Kyle Van Noy
  5. Leonard Floyd

Joey Bosa and Cameron Jordan still have ability as fringe starters, but likely more effective as rotational pass rushers. Everyone else available might as well be a coin toss whether they have anything left in the tank or not.

Interior Defensive Linemen

  1. David Onyemata
  2. DaQuan Jones
  3. DJ Reader
  4. Calais Campbell
  5. Shelby Harris

Out of the interior linemen Onyemata and Jones would be talent upgrades for several teams. The rest of the position grouping are depth talents or veteran mentors.

  1. Bobby Wagner
  2. Chris Board
  3. Germaine Pratt
  4. Shaq Thompson
  5. Matt Milano

Bobby Wagner is an ageless wonder who remains a tackling machine, while Chris Board also represents starting value.

  1. Rasul Douglas
  2. Tre’Davious White
  3. Adoree Jackson
  4. Trevon Diggs
  5. Marshon Lattimore

There simply aren’t enough good corners in the NFL right now, and this list shows how deep the position has been plundered. Good luck if you still need a starter, because the cupboards are bare.

  1. Xavier Woods
  2. Chuck Clark
  3. Terrell Edmunds
  4. Jordan Poyer
  5. Mike Edwards

Nobody here is a starter. Backup or rotational guys only at this point.

  1. Graham Gano
  2. Matt Prater
  3. Daniel Carlson

There are only three free agent kickers who were with other teams in 2025. These are your guys.

  1. Thomas Morestead
  2. Matt Haack
  3. Jamie Gillan

There are also only three free agents at punter who were with teams last season. These are those guys.

Source link
#NFLs #remaining #free #agents #position #Draft

Tag
Previous post

MP में लॉरेंस गैंग : रितेश कबूला इंदौर के बिल्डर की लोकेशन, फोटो और जानकारी हैरी बॉक्सर को भेजी थी

Next post

Deadspin | Rockets start strong, don’t let up to beat Lakers, stay alive in series <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28821027.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28821027.jpg" alt="NBA: Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson (1) dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Amen Thompson scored a game-high 23 points, Tari Eason added 20 added 19 and the Houston Rockets averted elimination with a 115-96 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>All five starters scored in double figures for the Rockets, who played without Kevin Durant (ankle) for the third time in the series. Reed Sheppard chipped in 17 points on 4-for-7 3-point shooting while Alperen Sengun (19 points) and Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points) rounded out the balanced offensive attack. Eason and Smith grabbed eight rebounds apiece.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The Rockets made headway by forcing 24 turnovers that they converted into 30 points. Houston scored 23 fast-break points and limited the Lakers to 5-for-22 3-point shooting (22.7%).</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>After dominating Game 3 and co-authoring the Lakers’ overtime victory, LeBron James (10 points, nine assists) and Marcus Smart (nine, five) shot a combined 5 of 17 from the floor. Deandre Ayton finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds but was ejected with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter after elbowing Sengun in the neck and incurring a flagrant-2 foul.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>The Lakers will carry a 3-1 series lead back to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Wednesday.</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>Houston seized an 18-17 lead on a Sengun dunk at the 3:19 mark of the first quarter and didn’t look back. The Lakers shot 41.2% (7 of 17) in the first period, missed both of their 3-pointers and conceded eight points off eight turnovers. Sengun played the entire first period for the Rockets.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>The Rockets used a 16-4 run bridging the opening two periods to help extend to a 38-28 lead via a Sengun three-point play at the 6:35 mark of the second. When the Lakers sliced that deficit to three points, Josh Okogie keyed a 10-2 rally with a 3-pointer. Thompson added a pull-up jumper and a three-point play before Sheppard capped the run with a layup.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>The Lakers shot 58.8% in the second quarter (10 of 17) but committed six turnovers in the frame. Houston pulled away in the third, opening the second half with a 12-4 burst before Eason drilled a corner 3 and Sengun completed another three-point play that pushed the lead to 76-55.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The Rockets led by as many as 28 points.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-10"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Rockets #start #strong #dont #beat #Lakers #stay #alive #series

Related Posts

Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #homePro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.

After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.

Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.

Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:

People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.

But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.

It’s a thank-you letter.

I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.

The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.

I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.

You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.

For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.

Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.

It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.

You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.

On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.


When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.

Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.

So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.

It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything.

Thank you, Arizona.

Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.

Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.

You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football.

You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it. #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">TNPL 2026 Live: All-round batting display propels Nellai Royal Kings to 206/8 Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.TOSSTiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.PLAYING XIsNellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky BhaskerTiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T NatarajanPublished on Aug 09, 2026 #TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings

Post Comment