The study identifies NCOA4 (nuclear receptor coactivator 4) as a cargo receptor mediating ferritinophagy, the selective autophagic turnover of ferritin. Using quantitative proteomics, the authors identified NCOA4 as a highly enriched protein in autophagosomes and found that it associates with ATG8 proteins, which recruit cargo-receptor complexes into autophagosomes. NCOA4 was found to interact with ferritin heavy and light chains, components of an iron-filled cage structure that protects cells from reactive iron species. The delivery of ferritin to lysosomes required NCOA4, and its deficiency led to decreased bioavailable intracellular iron. This work provides a resource for further dissection of autophagosomal cargo-receptor connectivity and highlights the importance of NCOA4 in iron homeostasis and selective autophagy.The study identifies NCOA4 (nuclear receptor coactivator 4) as a cargo receptor mediating ferritinophagy, the selective autophagic turnover of ferritin. Using quantitative proteomics, the authors identified NCOA4 as a highly enriched protein in autophagosomes and found that it associates with ATG8 proteins, which recruit cargo-receptor complexes into autophagosomes. NCOA4 was found to interact with ferritin heavy and light chains, components of an iron-filled cage structure that protects cells from reactive iron species. The delivery of ferritin to lysosomes required NCOA4, and its deficiency led to decreased bioavailable intracellular iron. This work provides a resource for further dissection of autophagosomal cargo-receptor connectivity and highlights the importance of NCOA4 in iron homeostasis and selective autophagy.