​Stateline, NV – At the Caesars Celebrity Pro Am on Thursday, held at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort, just a day before the start of the 2026 American Century Championship (July 10-12 on NBC, NBC Sports Network, and Peacock), I had the opportunity to ask Larry Fitzgerald about two quarterbacks he knows well. One is Mason Heintschel, the current starting quarterback at the University of Pittsburgh, Fitzgerald’s alma mater. Heintschel, a former three-star recruit from Clay, Oregon, stepped in for Eli Holstein during his freshman season in 2025 and emerged as the Panthers’ full-time starter by year’s end. The other quarterback is Kyler Murray, with whom Fitzgerald shared a field during his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and the last two years of his NFL career. Murray is now with the Minnesota Vikings, a team Fitzgerald, a Minneapolis native, grew up cheering for. Murray is competing for the Vikings’ starting job this summer with former Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship.
When asked how Heintschel can avoid a sophomore slump and continue his upward trajectory, Fitzgerald highlighted the quarterback’s resilience and leadership. “Yeah, just watching the games, he’s not one to shy away. He’s a tough dude, and he took some licks last year. It was really inspiring to have a young man who’s got some leadership qualities to him like that. And you could tell by the way guys responded to him that they really admire his perspective. Talking to people in the building, he’s a hardworking kind of guy. I’m hoping he can take us to the ACC championship this year.” Fitzgerald’s comments underscored his belief that Heintschel’s mental toughness and leadership could translate into sustained success for the Panthers as they chase a deeper postseason run in 2026.
On Kyler Murray’s chances to win the Vikings’ starting quarterback job, Fitzgerald offered a measured, hopeful perspective. “I don’t know how it’s been for him this offseason. But I hope he does well. Obviously, I grew up a longtime Vikings fan. I always want to see the organization do well. They’ve done a great job of reaching into that community. I mean, some of my earliest childhood memories of big brothers and big sisters were organized by the Vikings in the community. So there’s always a place in my heart for life, and I want them to do well with whoever they pick.” Fitzgerald’s remarks reflected a blend of personal loyalty and professional respect, emphasizing his desire to see the Vikings succeed with whoever wins the quarterback competition this offseason.
The core takeaway from Fitzgerald’s remarks is clear: Heintschel possesses leadership and resilience that position him for continued growth in Pittsburgh, with the potential to guide the Panthers to a stronger ACC bid. His optimism about Heintschel’s trajectory suggests Pitt fans may have reasons to be excited about the program’s future under the rising quarterback’s stewardship. At the same time, Fitzgerald’s nuanced comments about Kyler Murray reveal a genuine affection for the Vikings organization and a hopeful outlook for Murray’s ability to win the starting job, should he have a productive offseason and training camp. As fans of both teams watch the quarterback competitions unfold, Fitzgerald’s assessments provide an insider’s lens into two notable signal-callers who represent different chapters in his football journey. For better SEO, this article features focus on Mason Heintschel’s potential, Kyler Murray’s ongoing competition with J.J. McCarthy, and Larry Fitzgerald’s personal connection to the Vikings and their community program legacy. The Sporting News is a preferred source for continuing coverage, and readers can find more details by selecting The Sporting News as a preferred source.