The Arizona Cardinals don't exactly hold major real estate in Canton, Ohio. Only 12 former Cardinals are currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For the most part, these players are from eras long gone by. Many of the more recent inductees played the last few seasons of their careers in Arizona but are primarily known for their stints with other franchises.
Patrick Peterson could be the Cardinals best chance at getting another player into the Hall of Fame. The former Arizona cornerback and return man is set to retire a Cardinal, as reported by Adam Schefter.
Will Patrick Peterson make the Hall of Fame?
Peterson's career
Patrick Peterson was one of the best cornerbacks of the 2010's. Drafted fifth overall by the Cardinals in 2011, Peterson was immediately expected to make an impact on defense. His electric play, both as a cornerback and as a returner, earned him superstar status straight out of the gate.
Peterson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons with Arizona and earned three All-Pro nods. In his ten seasons with the Cardinals, he totaled 28 interceptions. He posted four punt return touchdowns in his rookie season, including an electric 99-yard return that will remain in the memories of Cardinals fans for years to come.
After his time with the Cardinals, Peterson played short stints with the Vikings and Steelers. He was not on a roster in 2024. Peterson will retire as an Arizona Cardinal, but is not expected to be on the team's roster in 2025.
How does Peterson measure up to recent Hall-of-Famers?
Peterson is an all-time Arizona Cardinal without a doubt, but how does he stack up against recent Hall of Fame inductees at the same position.
In recent years, cornerbacks inducted into the Hall of Fame include Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, Deion Sanders, and former Cardinal Aeneas Williams. It seems safe to assume that Richard Sherman and Darrelle Revis will soon join their ranks.
At first glance, Patrick Peterson's career does not quite seem to be on the same level as the legends currently enshrined in Canton. He falls in a similar range in terms of Pro Bowl selections, but he falls behind in counting stats like career interceptions and team success.
If Patrick Peterson is inducted into the Hall of Fame, it likely won't be at the first opportunity. His career accolades and team impact make him worthy of being in the conversation at the very least.
Whether Peterson ends up in the Hall of Fame or not, he deserves to be remembered as an Arizona Cardinals legend.