Larry Fitzgerald Omits Himself From Top Receiver List
The legendary NFL wide receiver ranked his peers instead of including himself in his top three picks.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Football
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Eleven-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald excluded himself when asked to name the three greatest wide receivers in NFL history. He instead identified Jerry Rice and Randy Moss as the top two performers in the sport.
Why it matters
The list provides a rare personal perspective from a player who ranks among the all-time statistical leaders in professional football. His selections highlight the immense legacy of the receivers he considers the greatest of his generation and beyond.
Fitzgerald played 17 NFL seasons with 17,492 receiving yards and 121 touchdowns. He finished his career just 117 receptions behind Jerry Rice's all-time record.
The players
Larry Fitzgerald
He is an 11-time Pro Bowler who played 17 seasons in the NFL and is widely regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers in professional football history.
Jerry Rice
Widely considered the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, he holds the league's all-time record for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
Randy Moss
He is a former NFL wide receiver known for his exceptional speed and vertical jump, frequently cited as one of the most dominant deep-threat receivers in league history.
The details
During his appearance on the NFL on CBS show Set, Hut!, Fitzgerald listed Don Hutson, Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Cris Carter, and Lance Alworth as candidates for the remaining three spots in his top rankings. His own career achievements include being a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team and earning three All-Pro honors.
Timeline
2008 postseason: Fitzgerald recorded seven touchdowns and 546 receiving yards.
2010s: Fitzgerald was named to the All-Decade Team.
2015: Fitzgerald expressed doubt about reaching Jerry Rice's record.
2015 postseason: Fitzgerald caught eight passes for 176 yards.
2016: Fitzgerald won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Season Trajectory
This assessment follows the pattern set by the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team selection process in evaluating greatness among the sport's top performers. By comparing himself to historical legends, Fitzgerald contextualizes the modern era's statistical inflation against the high bars set by previous generations.
Fantasy players and fans can measure Fitzgerald's production against other greats by noting his 1,432 career receptions. His admission highlights how close he came to the all-time record, finishing just 117 catches shy of Jerry Rice.
The takeaway
Fitzgerald's humility underscores the immense difficulty of comparing players across different eras of the NFL. Readers can observe that true greatness is often measured by the respect a player commands from his own peers.
Further reading
For more discussions on league history and player rankings, visit the Football section.
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