Larry Fitzgerald soothed the nerves of countless Cardinals fans by confirming he would be back in 2018, which coach Steve Wilks relayed to the world in a radio interview on Thursday morning.

It doesn't come as a great surprise, as the resolution seemed headed in this direction for a while because of one important factor: Fitzgerald's outstanding play over the past three years despite his advancing age.

The star wideout has caught at least 107 passes in every year since 2015 and surpassed 1,000 yards in all of them. His stretch has been one of the most impressive in history, as only nine other receivers have sustained a more prolific three-year run at the age of 32 or older.

Among the players on that list are Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Cris Carter. Fitzgerald has long been lumped with those superstars on the short list of best receivers in history, and the ability to sustain elite production into his mid-30s is another reason why Fitzgerald will be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame once eligible.

Players first hit the ballot five years after they retire, but Fitzgerald's clock hasn't started ticking yet. With the way he is performing, who knows when it will begin?

"I'll pretty much go as long as I feel like I can play at a high level," Fitzgerald told the NFL Network in mid-January.