Warner, who retired from the Cardinals in 2009 after leading the team to its first Super Bowl a year earlier, was a surprise pick to make the Hall of Fame.
His statistics, however, back up the selection as he was the first quarterback to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl. He took the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl twice, winning once.
"This is an extraordinary honor for an extraordinary person," said Cardinals President Michael Bidwill. "Every day and in every possible way Kurt Warnerhas demonstrated the excellence for which the Hall of Fame stands and we are thrilled to see him take his rightful place among the game's all-time greats."
Fitzgerald, the most productive wide receive in team history, was honored as well for his off-the-field contributions with the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. He shared the award with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Warner is the only other player for the Cardinals to win the award.
Two foundations, the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund and the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund, are Fitzgerald's big efforts. The First Down Fund helps by books, materials and field trips to schools that otherwise would not be able to purchase them among other efforts. The second fund honors his mother, who died of breast cancer, and looks to raise money for research.
Patrick O'Grady is Managing Editor of the Phoenix Business Journal.
